1992 BMW 540 vs. 1957 Riley 2.6
To start off, 1992 BMW 540 is newer by 35 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1957 Riley 2.6. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1957 Riley 2.6 would be higher. At 3,980 cc (8 cylinders), 1992 BMW 540 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1992 BMW 540 (282 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 181 more horse power than 1957 Riley 2.6. (101 HP @ 4500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1992 BMW 540 should accelerate faster than 1957 Riley 2.6. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1992 BMW 540 weights approximately 10 kg more than 1957 Riley 2.6. 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, 1992 BMW 540 (400 Nm @ 5100 RPM) has 206 more torque (in Nm) than 1957 Riley 2.6. (194 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1992 BMW 540 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1957 Riley 2.6.
Compare all specifications:
| 1992 BMW 540 | 1957 Riley 2.6 | |
| Make | BMW | Riley |
| Model | 540 | 2.6 |
| Year Released | 1992 | 1957 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3980 cc | 2639 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 282 HP | 101 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Torque | 400 Nm | 194 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5100 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 89 mm | 79.4 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 80 mm | 88.9 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1650 kg | 1640 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 4720 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1560 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2890 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 65 L | 54 L |
