1956 BMW 501 vs. 2003 Caterham 7
To start off, 2003 Caterham 7 is newer by 47 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, 2003 Caterham 7 (160 HP @ 7500 RPM) has 22 more horse power than 1956 BMW 501. (138 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2003 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1956 BMW 501. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1956 BMW 501 weights approximately 905 kg more than 2003 Caterham 7.
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 46 more torque (in Nm) than 2003 Caterham 7. (176 Nm @ 5750 RPM). This means 1956 BMW 501 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2003 Caterham 7.
Compare all specifications:
1956 BMW 501 | 2003 Caterham 7 | |
Make | BMW | Caterham |
Model | 501 | 7 |
Year Released | 1956 | 2003 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 3166 cc | 1794 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 138 HP | 160 HP |
Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 7500 RPM |
Torque | 222 Nm | 176 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 5750 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 82 mm | 80 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 75 mm | 89.3 mm |
Top Speed | 190 km/hour | 209 km/hour |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
Vehicle Weight | 1405 kg | 500 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4740 mm | 3110 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1790 mm | 1580 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1540 mm | 810 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2230 mm |