1981 BMW 518 vs. 1956 Ferrari 500 Testarossa
To start off, 1981 BMW 518 is newer by 25 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1956 Ferrari 500 Testarossa. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1956 Ferrari 500 Testarossa would be higher. At 1,985 cc (4 cylinders), 1956 Ferrari 500 Testarossa is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1956 Ferrari 500 Testarossa (187 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 97 more horse power than 1981 BMW 518. (90 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1956 Ferrari 500 Testarossa should accelerate faster than 1981 BMW 518. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 BMW 518 weights approximately 460 kg more than 1956 Ferrari 500 Testarossa.
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, 1956 Ferrari 500 Testarossa (205 Nm @ 5500 RPM) has 65 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 BMW 518. (140 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1956 Ferrari 500 Testarossa will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 BMW 518.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 BMW 518 | 1956 Ferrari 500 Testarossa | |
| Make | BMW | Ferrari |
| Model | 518 | 500 Testarossa |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1956 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1766 cc | 1985 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 90 HP | 187 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 7000 RPM |
| Torque | 140 Nm | 205 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 89 mm | 90 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 71.1 mm | 78 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 8.8:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1140 kg | 680 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4630 mm | 4320 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1310 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2630 mm | 2260 mm |
