1957 BMW 600 vs. 1996 Caterham 7
To start off, 1996 Caterham 7 is newer by 39 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1957 BMW 600. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1957 BMW 600 would be higher. At 1,588 cc (4 cylinders), 1996 Caterham 7 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Caterham 7 (138 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 118 more horse power than 1957 BMW 600. (20 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1996 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1957 BMW 600. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1957 BMW 600 weights approximately 72 kg more than 1996 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, 1996 Caterham 7 (156 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 118 more torque (in Nm) than 1957 BMW 600. (38 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 1996 Caterham 7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1957 BMW 600.
Compare all specifications:
| 1957 BMW 600 | 1996 Caterham 7 | |
| Make | BMW | Caterham |
| Model | 600 | 7 |
| Year Released | 1957 | 1996 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 583 cc | 1588 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 2 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 20 HP | 138 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 7000 RPM |
| Torque | 38 Nm | 156 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 550 kg | 478 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 2910 mm | 3110 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1410 mm | 1580 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 810 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 1710 mm | 2240 mm |
