1959 Berkeley B vs. 1978 Opel Rekord
To start off, 1978 Opel Rekord is newer by 19 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Berkeley B. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Berkeley B would be higher. At 2,260 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Opel Rekord is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Opel Rekord (64 HP) has 15 more horse power than 1959 Berkeley B. (49 HP) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Opel Rekord should accelerate faster than 1959 Berkeley B. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Opel Rekord weights approximately 899 kg more than 1959 Berkeley B. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1978 Opel Rekord is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1978 Opel Rekord. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1959 Berkeley B, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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 Opel Rekord (126 Nm @ 2500 RPM) has 65 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Berkeley B. (61 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1978 Opel Rekord will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Berkeley B.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Berkeley B | 1978 Opel Rekord | |
| Make | Berkeley | Opel |
| Model | B | Rekord |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 692 cc | 2260 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 2 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 49 HP | 64 HP |
| Torque | 61 Nm | 126 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 22.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Diesel |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 356 kg | 1255 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3250 mm | 4600 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1280 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1170 mm | 1430 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 1790 mm | 2690 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 25 L | 65 L |
