1966 Riley 4 vs. 1955 Volkswagen Beetle
To start off, 1966 Riley 4 is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1955 Volkswagen Beetle. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1955 Volkswagen Beetle would be higher. At 1,622 cc (4 cylinders), 1966 Riley 4 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1966 Riley 4 (67 HP) has 29 more horse power than 1955 Volkswagen Beetle. (38 HP). In normal driving conditions, 1966 Riley 4 should accelerate faster than 1955 Volkswagen Beetle. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1966 Riley 4 weights approximately 408 kg more than 1955 Volkswagen Beetle. 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, 1966 Riley 4 (122 Nm @ 2500 RPM) has 33 more torque (in Nm) than 1955 Volkswagen Beetle. (89 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1966 Riley 4 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1955 Volkswagen Beetle.
Compare all specifications:
| 1966 Riley 4 | 1955 Volkswagen Beetle | |
| Make | Riley | Volkswagen |
| Model | 4 | Beetle |
| Year Released | 1966 | 1955 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Rear |
| Engine Size | 1622 cc | 1192 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | boxer |
| Horse Power | 67 HP | 38 HP |
| Torque | 122 Nm | 89 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 76.2 mm | 77 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 88.9 mm | 64 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1148 kg | 740 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4540 mm | 4070 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1620 mm | 1560 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1510 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2530 mm | 2410 mm |
