1990 BMW 316 vs. 1951 Ferrari 212
To start off, 1990 BMW 316 is newer by 39 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1951 Ferrari 212. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1951 Ferrari 212 would be higher. At 2,562 cc (12 cylinders), 1951 Ferrari 212 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1951 Ferrari 212 (140 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 40 more horse power than 1990 BMW 316. (100 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1951 Ferrari 212 should accelerate faster than 1990 BMW 316. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1990 BMW 316 weights approximately 156 kg more than 1951 Ferrari 212.
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, 1951 Ferrari 212 (216 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 75 more torque (in Nm) than 1990 BMW 316. (141 Nm @ 4250 RPM). This means 1951 Ferrari 212 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1990 BMW 316.
Compare all specifications:
| 1990 BMW 316 | 1951 Ferrari 212 | |
| Make | BMW | Ferrari |
| Model | 316 | 212 |
| Year Released | 1990 | 1951 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1596 cc | 2562 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 12 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 100 HP | 140 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 141 Nm | 216 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4250 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 7.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1080 kg | 924 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4330 mm | 3720 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1650 mm | 1570 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1090 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2580 mm | 2260 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 159 L |
