1957 BMW 600 vs. 2004 Caterham 7
To start off, 2004 Caterham 7 is newer by 47 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 1,997 cc (4 cylinders), 2004 Caterham 7 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2004 Caterham 7 (251 HP @ 8000 RPM) has 231 more horse power than 1957 BMW 600. (20 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2004 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 80 kg more than 2004 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, 2004 Caterham 7 (258 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 220 more torque (in Nm) than 1957 BMW 600. (38 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 2004 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 | 2004 Caterham 7 | |
| Make | BMW | Caterham |
| Model | 600 | 7 |
| Year Released | 1957 | 2004 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 583 cc | 1997 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 2 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 20 HP | 251 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 8000 RPM |
| Torque | 38 Nm | 258 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 550 kg | 470 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 2910 mm | 3110 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1410 mm | 1580 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 810 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 1710 mm | 2230 mm |
