1957 Chevrolet Bel Air vs. 1981 Nissan Leopard
To start off, 1981 Nissan Leopard is newer by 24 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air would be higher. At 3,860 cc (6 cylinders), 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Nissan Leopard (134 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 19 more horse power than 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air. (115 HP @ 4200 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Nissan Leopard should accelerate faster than 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air weights approximately 386 kg more than 1981 Nissan Leopard.
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, 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air (277 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 51 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Nissan Leopard. (226 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Nissan Leopard.
Compare all specifications:
| 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air | 1981 Nissan Leopard | |
| Make | Chevrolet | Nissan |
| Model | Bel Air | Leopard |
| Year Released | 1957 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3860 cc | 2753 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 115 HP | 134 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4200 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 277 Nm | 226 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1626 kg | 1240 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5320 mm | 4640 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1980 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2990 mm | 2630 mm |
