1956 BMW 503 vs. 1979 Volvo 66
To start off, 1979 Volvo 66 is newer by 23 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1956 BMW 503. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1956 BMW 503 would be higher. At 3,168 cc (8 cylinders), 1956 BMW 503 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1956 BMW 503 (138 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 82 more horse power than 1979 Volvo 66. (56 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1956 BMW 503 should accelerate faster than 1979 Volvo 66.
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 503 (222 Nm @ 2500 RPM) has 128 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Volvo 66. (94 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 1956 BMW 503 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Volvo 66. 1979 Volvo 66 has automatic transmission and 1956 BMW 503 has manual transmission. 1956 BMW 503 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1979 Volvo 66 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1956 BMW 503 | 1979 Volvo 66 | |
| Make | BMW | Volvo |
| Model | 503 | 66 |
| Year Released | 1956 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3168 cc | 1289 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 56 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 222 Nm | 94 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82 mm | 73 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 75 mm | 77 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 7.3:1 | 8.5:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Length | 4760 mm | 3910 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1550 mm |
