1990 BMW 520 vs. 1970 Riley 4
To start off, 1990 BMW 520 is newer by 20 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Riley 4. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Riley 4 would be higher. At 1,991 cc (6 cylinders), 1990 BMW 520 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1990 BMW 520 (145 HP @ 5900 RPM) has 78 more horse power than 1970 Riley 4. (67 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1990 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 1970 Riley 4. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1990 BMW 520 weights approximately 394 kg more than 1970 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, 1990 BMW 520 (186 Nm @ 4700 RPM) has 66 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Riley 4. (120 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1990 BMW 520 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Riley 4.
Compare all specifications:
| 1990 BMW 520 | 1970 Riley 4 | |
| Make | BMW | Riley |
| Model | 520 | 4 |
| Year Released | 1990 | 1970 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1991 cc | 1622 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 145 HP | 67 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5900 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 186 Nm | 120 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4700 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 88.9 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 8.3:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1542 kg | 1148 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 4540 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1510 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2530 mm |
