1989 BMW 850 vs. 1959 Riley 4-68
To start off, 1989 BMW 850 is newer by 30 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Riley 4-68. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Riley 4-68 would be higher. At 4,988 cc (12 cylinders), 1989 BMW 850 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 BMW 850 (296 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 233 more horse power than 1959 Riley 4-68. (63 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1989 BMW 850 should accelerate faster than 1959 Riley 4-68. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1989 BMW 850 weights approximately 163 kg more than 1959 Riley 4-68. 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, 1989 BMW 850 (450 Nm @ 4100 RPM) has 335 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Riley 4-68. (115 Nm @ 3300 RPM). This means 1989 BMW 850 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Riley 4-68. 1989 BMW 850 has automatic transmission and 1959 Riley 4-68 has manual transmission. 1959 Riley 4-68 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1989 BMW 850 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1989 BMW 850 | 1959 Riley 4-68 | |
| Make | BMW | Riley |
| Model | 850 | 4-68 |
| Year Released | 1989 | 1959 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4988 cc | 1489 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 12 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 296 HP | 63 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5200 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 450 Nm | 115 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4100 RPM | 3300 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.8:1 | 8.3:1 |
| Top Speed | 246 km/hour | 142 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1255 kg | 1092 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4790 mm | 4540 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1520 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2690 mm | 2530 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 90 L | 45 L |
