1977 BMW 520 vs. 1985 Caterham 1700
To start off, 1985 Caterham 1700 is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1977 BMW 520. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1977 BMW 520 would be higher. At 1,990 cc (6 cylinders), 1977 BMW 520 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1985 Caterham 1700 (135 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 15 more horse power than 1977 BMW 520. (120 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1985 Caterham 1700 should accelerate faster than 1977 BMW 520. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1977 BMW 520 weights approximately 767 kg more than 1985 Caterham 1700.
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, 1985 Caterham 1700 (165 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 5 more torque (in Nm) than 1977 BMW 520. (160 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1985 Caterham 1700 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1977 BMW 520.
Compare all specifications:
| 1977 BMW 520 | 1985 Caterham 1700 | |
| Make | BMW | Caterham |
| Model | 520 | 1700 |
| Year Released | 1977 | 1985 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1990 cc | 1692 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 120 HP | 135 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 160 Nm | 165 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 83.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 77.6 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.2:1 | 10.5:1 |
| Top Speed | 180 km/hour | 179 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1310 kg | 543 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4630 mm | 3400 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1700 mm | 1580 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1090 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2640 mm | 2240 mm |
