1978 BMW 730 vs. 1954 Porsche 356
To start off, 1978 BMW 730 is newer by 24 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1954 Porsche 356. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1954 Porsche 356 would be higher. At 2,788 cc (6 cylinders), 1978 BMW 730 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 BMW 730 (185 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 75 more horse power than 1954 Porsche 356. (110 HP @ 6400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 BMW 730 should accelerate faster than 1954 Porsche 356. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 BMW 730 weights approximately 730 kg more than 1954 Porsche 356. 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, 1978 BMW 730 (230 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 97 more torque (in Nm) than 1954 Porsche 356. (133 Nm @ 5200 RPM). This means 1978 BMW 730 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1954 Porsche 356.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 BMW 730 | 1954 Porsche 356 | |
| Make | BMW | Porsche |
| Model | 730 | 356 |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1954 |
| Engine Position | Front | Rear |
| Engine Size | 2788 cc | 1498 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | boxer |
| Horse Power | 185 HP | 110 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 6400 RPM |
| Torque | 230 Nm | 133 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.0:1 | 8.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1510 kg | 780 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 3960 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1300 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2810 mm | 2110 mm |
