1956 BMW 501 vs. 1966 Porsche 906
To start off, 1966 Porsche 906 is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1956 BMW 501. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1956 BMW 501 would be higher. At 3,166 cc (8 cylinders), 1956 BMW 501 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1966 Porsche 906 (217 HP @ 8000 RPM) has 79 more horse power than 1956 BMW 501. (138 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1966 Porsche 906 should accelerate faster than 1956 BMW 501. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1956 BMW 501 weights approximately 788 kg more than 1966 Porsche 906.
Both vehicles are rear wheel drive (RWD) - it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, both vehicles do the job better than front wheel drive vehicles. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control.
Compare all specifications:
| 1956 BMW 501 | 1966 Porsche 906 | |
| Make | BMW | Porsche |
| Model | 501 | 906 |
| Year Released | 1956 | 1966 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 3166 cc | 1991 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 217 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 8000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1405 kg | 617 kg |
| Vehicle Width | 1790 mm | 1610 mm |
