1956 Chevrolet Bel Air vs. 1958 Chevrolet Corvette
To start off, 1958 Chevrolet Corvette is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air would be higher. At 4,637 cc (8 cylinders), 1958 Chevrolet Corvette is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1958 Chevrolet Corvette (227 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 79 more horse power than 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air. (148 HP @ 4200 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1958 Chevrolet Corvette should accelerate faster than 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air.
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, 1958 Chevrolet Corvette (407 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 129 more torque (in Nm) than 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air. (278 Nm @ 2200 RPM). This means 1958 Chevrolet Corvette will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air.
Compare all specifications:
1956 Chevrolet Bel Air | 1958 Chevrolet Corvette | |
Make | Chevrolet | Chevrolet |
Model | Bel Air | Corvette |
Year Released | 1956 | 1958 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 3869 cc | 4637 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | V |
Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 148 HP | 227 HP |
Engine RPM | 4200 RPM | 4800 RPM |
Torque | 278 Nm | 407 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 3000 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 90.5 mm | 98.4 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 100 mm | 76.2 mm |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
Number of Doors | 5 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Length | 4980 mm | 4280 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1980 mm | 1760 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1690 mm | 1250 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2930 mm | 2470 mm |