Quick comparison
The Ferrari 126C appeared in 1981, the Ferrari 156/85 in 1985 – 4 years later. Both have a V6 engine, mounted as a mid-engine. The more powerful one is the Ferrari 156/85: 760 PS versus 689 PS (converted from kW or hp). The Ferrari 126C took more race wins: 10 versus 2.
Ferrari 126CFerrari 156/85
1981–1984Period1985
1496 cm³ 120° V6 turbo Ferrari 021 / 031Engine1496 cm³ 120° V6 turbo Ferrari Tipo 031/2
1496 cm³Displacement1496 cm³
560-680 hp at 11'500 /minPower750 hp at 12'000 /min
–Top speed330 km/h
611 kg (126C)Weight558 kg
–Transmission5-speed plus reverse, transverse in unit with the engine
Mauro Forghieri (Technical Director, Chief Designer); Antonio Tomaini (Chief Designer, CK); Harvey Postlethwaite (Chief Designer, C2-C4)EngineeringHarvey Postlethwaite (Technical Director); Jean-Claude Migeot (Chief Designer); Ildo Renzetti (Chief Designer)
Formula 1ClassFormula 1
62Races16
10Wins2
10Pole positions1
0Drivers' titles–
2 (1982, 1983)Constructors' titles–
Gilles Villeneuve, Patrick Tambay, Michele Alboreto, Didier Pironi, Mario Andretti, René ArnouxDriversMichele Alboreto, René Arnoux, Stefan Johansson
All values come from the data sheets of the two models (sources listed there). The better value is highlighted in green wherever both data sheets give a comparable figure. Photos – Ferrari 126C: Morio, CC BY-SA 3.0; Ferrari 156/85: Wikimedia-Commons-Benutzer Rundvald, CC BY-SA 2.0 de. Licenses and originals: Sources & image credits.
