1959 BMW 503 vs. 1956 Riley Pathfinder
To start off, 1959 BMW 503 is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1956 Riley Pathfinder. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1956 Riley Pathfinder would be higher. At 3,168 cc (8 cylinders), 1959 BMW 503 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1959 BMW 503 (139 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 31 more horse power than 1956 Riley Pathfinder. (108 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1959 BMW 503 should accelerate faster than 1956 Riley Pathfinder. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1956 Riley Pathfinder weights approximately 36 kg more than 1959 BMW 503.
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, 1959 BMW 503 (222 Nm @ 2500 RPM) has 39 more torque (in Nm) than 1956 Riley Pathfinder. (183 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1959 BMW 503 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1956 Riley Pathfinder.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 BMW 503 | 1956 Riley Pathfinder | |
| Make | BMW | Riley |
| Model | 503 | Pathfinder |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1956 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3168 cc | 2443 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 139 HP | 108 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 222 Nm | 183 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82 mm | 80.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 75 mm | 120 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1500 kg | 1536 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4760 mm | 4650 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1530 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2860 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 75 L | 59 L |
