1996 BMW 540 vs. 1958 Ford Consul
To start off, 1996 BMW 540 is newer by 38 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1958 Ford Consul. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1958 Ford Consul would be higher. At 4,397 cc (8 cylinders), 1996 BMW 540 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 BMW 540 (282 HP @ 5400 RPM) has 235 more horse power than 1958 Ford Consul. (47 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 BMW 540 should accelerate faster than 1958 Ford Consul. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 BMW 540 weights approximately 726 kg more than 1958 Ford Consul. 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, 1996 BMW 540 (440 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 316 more torque (in Nm) than 1958 Ford Consul. (124 Nm @ 2300 RPM). This means 1996 BMW 540 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1958 Ford Consul.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 BMW 540 | 1958 Ford Consul | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 540 | Consul |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1958 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4397 cc | 1702 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 282 HP | 47 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5400 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 440 Nm | 124 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3600 RPM | 2300 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 92 mm | 82.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 82.7 mm | 79.5 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1815 kg | 1089 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4810 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1750 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1570 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2830 mm | 2660 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 47 L |
