1956 BMW 501 vs. 1984 Porsche 944
To start off, 1984 Porsche 944 is newer by 28 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, 1984 Porsche 944 (145 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 7 more horse power than 1956 BMW 501. (138 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1984 Porsche 944 should accelerate faster than 1956 BMW 501. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1956 BMW 501 weights approximately 60 kg more than 1984 Porsche 944.
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, 1956 BMW 501 (222 Nm @ 2500 RPM) has 27 more torque (in Nm) than 1984 Porsche 944. (195 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1956 BMW 501 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1984 Porsche 944.
Compare all specifications:
| 1956 BMW 501 | 1984 Porsche 944 | |
| Make | BMW | Porsche |
| Model | 501 | 944 |
| Year Released | 1956 | 1984 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3166 cc | 2479 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 145 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 222 Nm | 195 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82 mm | 100 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 75 mm | 78.9 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1405 kg | 1345 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4740 mm | 4300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1790 mm | 1740 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1540 mm | 1280 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2410 mm |
