1956 BMW 501 vs. 1977 Porsche 930
To start off, 1977 Porsche 930 is newer by 21 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, 1977 Porsche 930 (256 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 118 more horse power than 1956 BMW 501. (138 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1977 Porsche 930 should accelerate faster than 1956 BMW 501. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1956 BMW 501 weights approximately 259 kg more than 1977 Porsche 930.
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. Let's talk about torque, 1977 Porsche 930 (350 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 128 more torque (in Nm) than 1956 BMW 501. (222 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1977 Porsche 930 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1956 BMW 501.
Compare all specifications:
| 1956 BMW 501 | 1977 Porsche 930 | |
| Make | BMW | Porsche |
| Model | 501 | 930 |
| Year Released | 1956 | 1977 |
| Engine Position | Front | Rear |
| Engine Size | 3166 cc | 2994 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 256 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 222 Nm | 350 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82 mm | 95 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 75 mm | 70.4 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1405 kg | 1146 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4740 mm | 4300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1790 mm | 1780 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1540 mm | 1320 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2510 mm |
