1981 BMW 520 vs. 1971 Fiat 500
To start off, 1981 BMW 520 is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Fiat 500. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Fiat 500 would be higher. At 1,991 cc (6 cylinders), 1981 BMW 520 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 BMW 520 (123 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 105 more horse power than 1971 Fiat 500. (18 HP @ 4600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1981 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 1971 Fiat 500. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 BMW 520 weights approximately 710 kg more than 1971 Fiat 500. 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, 1981 BMW 520 (170 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 143 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Fiat 500. (27 Nm @ 3200 RPM). This means 1981 BMW 520 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Fiat 500.
Compare all specifications:
1981 BMW 520 | 1971 Fiat 500 | |
Make | BMW | Fiat |
Model | 520 | 500 |
Year Released | 1981 | 1971 |
Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
Engine Position | Front | Rear |
Engine Size | 1991 cc | 497 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 2 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 123 HP | 18 HP |
Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 4600 RPM |
Torque | 170 Nm | 27 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3200 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 67.4 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 70 mm |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1220 kg | 510 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4630 mm | 2980 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1330 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1330 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2630 mm | 1850 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 22 L |