1981 BMW 525 vs. 1964 Riley 4
To start off, 1981 BMW 525 is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1964 Riley 4. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1964 Riley 4 would be higher. At 2,495 cc (6 cylinders), 1981 BMW 525 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 BMW 525 (148 HP) has 81 more horse power than 1964 Riley 4. (67 HP). In normal driving conditions, 1981 BMW 525 should accelerate faster than 1964 Riley 4. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 BMW 525 weights approximately 128 kg more than 1964 Riley 4. 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 525 (215 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 94 more torque (in Nm) than 1964 Riley 4. (121 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1981 BMW 525 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1964 Riley 4.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 BMW 525 | 1964 Riley 4 | |
| Make | BMW | Riley |
| Model | 525 | 4 |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1964 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2495 cc | 1622 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 148 HP | 67 HP |
| Torque | 215 Nm | 121 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 86.1 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 71.6 mm | 88.9 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.6:1 | 8.3:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1280 kg | 1152 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 4540 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1530 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2630 mm | 2530 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 45 L |
