1956 BMW 501 vs. 1978 Porsche 911
To start off, 1978 Porsche 911 is newer by 22 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, 1978 Porsche 911 (185 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 47 more horse power than 1956 BMW 501. (138 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Porsche 911 should accelerate faster than 1956 BMW 501. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1956 BMW 501 weights approximately 225 kg more than 1978 Porsche 911.
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, 1978 Porsche 911 (265 Nm @ 4100 RPM) has 43 more torque (in Nm) than 1956 BMW 501. (222 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1978 Porsche 911 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1956 BMW 501.
Compare all specifications:
1956 BMW 501 | 1978 Porsche 911 | |
Make | BMW | Porsche |
Model | 501 | 911 |
Year Released | 1956 | 1978 |
Engine Position | Front | Rear |
Engine Size | 3166 cc | 2994 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | boxer |
Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 138 HP | 185 HP |
Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 5500 RPM |
Torque | 222 Nm | 265 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 4100 RPM |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
Vehicle Weight | 1405 kg | 1180 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4740 mm | 4300 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1790 mm | 1660 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1540 mm | 1330 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2280 mm |