1957 BMW 501 vs. 1973 Rover 3.5 Litre
To start off, 1973 Rover 3.5 Litre is newer by 16 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 3,532 cc (8 cylinders), 1973 Rover 3.5 Litre is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1973 Rover 3.5 Litre (150 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 12 more horse power than 1957 BMW 501. (138 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1973 Rover 3.5 Litre should accelerate faster than 1957 BMW 501. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Rover 3.5 Litre weights approximately 230 kg more than 1957 BMW 501. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
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, 1973 Rover 3.5 Litre (276 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 53 more torque (in Nm) than 1957 BMW 501. (223 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1973 Rover 3.5 Litre will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1957 BMW 501.
Compare all specifications:
| 1957 BMW 501 | 1973 Rover 3.5 Litre | |
| Make | BMW | Rover |
| Model | 501 | 3.5 Litre |
| Year Released | 1957 | 1973 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3168 cc | 3532 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 150 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 223 Nm | 276 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1405 kg | 1635 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4740 mm | 4750 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1790 mm | 1790 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1540 mm | 1550 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2820 mm |
