1957 BMW 501 vs. 1959 Ferrari 250 GT
To start off, 1959 Ferrari 250 GT is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1957 BMW 501. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1957 BMW 501 would be higher. At 3,168 cc (8 cylinders), 1957 BMW 501 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1959 Ferrari 250 GT (238 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 100 more horse power than 1957 BMW 501. (138 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1959 Ferrari 250 GT should accelerate faster than 1957 BMW 501. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1957 BMW 501 weights approximately 205 kg more than 1959 Ferrari 250 GT.
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, 1959 Ferrari 250 GT (262 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 39 more torque (in Nm) than 1957 BMW 501. (223 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1959 Ferrari 250 GT will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1957 BMW 501.
Compare all specifications:
1957 BMW 501 | 1959 Ferrari 250 GT | |
Make | BMW | Ferrari |
Model | 501 | 250 GT |
Year Released | 1957 | 1959 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 3168 cc | 2952 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 12 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 138 HP | 238 HP |
Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 7000 RPM |
Torque | 223 Nm | 262 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 5000 RPM |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
Vehicle Weight | 1405 kg | 1200 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4740 mm | 4980 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1790 mm | 1710 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1540 mm | 1350 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2610 mm |