1959 Abarth 850 vs. 1978 BMW 520
To start off, 1978 BMW 520 is newer by 19 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Abarth 850. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Abarth 850 would be higher. At 1,951 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 BMW 520 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 BMW 520 (135 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 65 more horse power than 1959 Abarth 850. (70 HP @ 6800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 1959 Abarth 850. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 BMW 520 weights approximately 1100 kg more than 1959 Abarth 850. 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, 1978 BMW 520 (280 Nm @ 1750 RPM) has 200 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Abarth 850. (80 Nm @ 4800 RPM). This means 1978 BMW 520 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Abarth 850.
Compare all specifications:
1959 Abarth 850 | 1978 BMW 520 | |
Make | Abarth | BMW |
Model | 850 | 520 |
Year Released | 1959 | 1978 |
Engine Position | Rear | Front |
Engine Size | 847 cc | 1951 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 70 HP | 135 HP |
Engine RPM | 6800 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Torque | 80 Nm | 280 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4800 RPM | 1750 RPM |
Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 19.0:1 |
Top Speed | 185 km/hour | 204 km/hour |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 5 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 570 kg | 1670 kg |
Vehicle Length | 3480 mm | 4810 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1360 mm | 1810 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1150 mm | 1450 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2010 mm | 2770 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 30 L | 70 L |