1979 BMW 728 vs. 2004 Caterham 7
To start off, 2004 Caterham 7 is newer by 25 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1979 BMW 728. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1979 BMW 728 would be higher. At 2,788 cc (6 cylinders), 1979 BMW 728 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2004 Caterham 7 (251 HP @ 8000 RPM) has 70 more horse power than 1979 BMW 728. (181 HP @ 5800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2004 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1979 BMW 728. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 BMW 728 weights approximately 1000 kg more than 2004 Caterham 7.
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, 2004 Caterham 7 (258 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 18 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 BMW 728. (240 Nm @ 4200 RPM). This means 2004 Caterham 7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 BMW 728.
Compare all specifications:
| 1979 BMW 728 | 2004 Caterham 7 | |
| Make | BMW | Caterham |
| Model | 728 | 7 |
| Year Released | 1979 | 2004 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2788 cc | 1997 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 181 HP | 251 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 8000 RPM |
| Torque | 240 Nm | 258 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4200 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Top Speed | 201 km/hour | 241 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1470 kg | 470 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 3110 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1580 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 810 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2800 mm | 2230 mm |
