1957 Riley 1.5 vs. 1959 Steyr 500
To start off, 1959 Steyr 500 is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1957 Riley 1.5. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1957 Riley 1.5 would be higher. At 1,489 cc (4 cylinders), 1957 Riley 1.5 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1957 Riley 1.5 (63 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 47 more horse power than 1959 Steyr 500. (16 HP @ 4600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1957 Riley 1.5 should accelerate faster than 1959 Steyr 500. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1957 Riley 1.5 weights approximately 490 kg more than 1959 Steyr 500. 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, 1957 Riley 1.5 (112 Nm @ 2500 RPM) has 80 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Steyr 500. (32 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 1957 Riley 1.5 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Steyr 500.
Compare all specifications:
| 1957 Riley 1.5 | 1959 Steyr 500 | |
| Make | Riley | Steyr |
| Model | 1.5 | 500 |
| Year Released | 1957 | 1959 |
| Engine Size | 1489 cc | 491 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 2 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 63 HP | 16 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 4600 RPM |
| Torque | 112 Nm | 32 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 935 kg | 445 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3890 mm | 2970 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1560 mm | 1330 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1510 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2190 mm | 1850 mm |
