1959 BMW 503 vs. 1981 Reliant Kitten
To start off, 1981 Reliant Kitten is newer by 22 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 BMW 503. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 BMW 503 would be higher. At 3,168 cc (8 cylinders), 1959 BMW 503 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1959 BMW 503 (139 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 99 more horse power than 1981 Reliant Kitten. (40 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1959 BMW 503 should accelerate faster than 1981 Reliant Kitten. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1959 BMW 503 weights approximately 960 kg more than 1981 Reliant Kitten. 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, 1959 BMW 503 (222 Nm @ 2500 RPM) has 159 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Reliant Kitten. (63 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1959 BMW 503 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Reliant Kitten.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 BMW 503 | 1981 Reliant Kitten | |
| Make | BMW | Reliant |
| Model | 503 | Kitten |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3168 cc | 848 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 139 HP | 40 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 222 Nm | 63 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82 mm | 62.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 75 mm | 69.1 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1500 kg | 540 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4760 mm | 3330 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1430 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2150 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 75 L | 27 L |
