1958 BMW 501 vs. 1985 Ford Fairlane
To start off, 1985 Ford Fairlane is newer by 27 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1958 BMW 501. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1958 BMW 501 would be higher. At 4,089 cc (6 cylinders), 1985 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1958 BMW 501 (138 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 1 more horse power than 1985 Ford Fairlane. (137 HP @ 3750 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1958 BMW 501 should accelerate faster than 1985 Ford Fairlane. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1985 Ford Fairlane weights approximately 225 kg more than 1958 BMW 501.
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, 1985 Ford Fairlane (304 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 82 more torque (in Nm) than 1958 BMW 501. (222 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1985 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1958 BMW 501.
Compare all specifications:
| 1958 BMW 501 | 1985 Ford Fairlane | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 501 | Fairlane |
| Year Released | 1958 | 1985 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3168 cc | 4089 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 137 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 3750 RPM |
| Torque | 222 Nm | 304 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 1405 kg | 1630 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4740 mm | 5020 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1790 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1540 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2950 mm |
