1996 BMW 540 vs. 1959 Riley 4-68
To start off, 1996 BMW 540 is newer by 37 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 4,396 cc (8 cylinders), 1996 BMW 540 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 BMW 540 (282 HP @ 5400 RPM) has 219 more horse power than 1959 Riley 4-68. (63 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 BMW 540 should accelerate faster than 1959 Riley 4-68. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 BMW 540 weights approximately 753 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, 1996 BMW 540 (440 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 325 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Riley 4-68. (115 Nm @ 3300 RPM). This means 1996 BMW 540 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Riley 4-68. 1996 BMW 540 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. 1996 BMW 540 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 BMW 540 | 1959 Riley 4-68 | |
| Make | BMW | Riley |
| Model | 540 | 4-68 |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1959 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4396 cc | 1489 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 282 HP | 63 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5400 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 440 Nm | 115 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3600 RPM | 3300 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 92 mm | 73 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 82.7 mm | 88.9 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.0:1 | 8.3:1 |
| Top Speed | 250 km/hour | 142 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1845 kg | 1092 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4810 mm | 4540 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1520 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2530 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 45 L |
