1963 BMW 502 vs. 1965 Riley 4
To start off, 1965 Riley 4 is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1963 BMW 502. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1963 BMW 502 would be higher. At 3,168 cc (8 cylinders), 1963 BMW 502 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1963 BMW 502 (158 HP) has 91 more horse power than 1965 Riley 4. (67 HP). In normal driving conditions, 1963 BMW 502 should accelerate faster than 1965 Riley 4. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1963 BMW 502 weights approximately 342 kg more than 1965 Riley 4. 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, 1963 BMW 502 (240 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 119 more torque (in Nm) than 1965 Riley 4. (121 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1963 BMW 502 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1965 Riley 4.
Compare all specifications:
| 1963 BMW 502 | 1965 Riley 4 | |
| Make | BMW | Riley |
| Model | 502 | 4 |
| Year Released | 1963 | 1965 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3168 cc | 1620 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 158 HP | 67 HP |
| Torque | 240 Nm | 121 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3600 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82.1 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 75 mm | 88.9 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 8.3:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1490 kg | 1148 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4740 mm | 4540 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1790 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1540 mm | 1530 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2530 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 54 L | 45 L |
