1951 Austin Princess vs. 1996 BMW M3
To start off, 1996 BMW M3 is newer by 45 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1951 Austin Princess. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1951 Austin Princess would be higher. At 3,990 cc (6 cylinders), 1951 Austin Princess is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 BMW M3 (328 HP @ 7400 RPM) has 204 more horse power than 1951 Austin Princess. (124 HP @ 3800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1996 BMW M3 should accelerate faster than 1951 Austin Princess. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1951 Austin Princess weights approximately 323 kg more than 1996 BMW M3.
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 M3 (350 Nm @ 3250 RPM) has 62 more torque (in Nm) than 1951 Austin Princess. (288 Nm @ 2200 RPM). This means 1996 BMW M3 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1951 Austin Princess.
Compare all specifications:
| 1951 Austin Princess | 1996 BMW M3 | |
| Make | Austin | BMW |
| Model | Princess | M3 |
| Year Released | 1951 | 1996 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3990 cc | 3169 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 124 HP | 328 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 7400 RPM |
| Torque | 288 Nm | 350 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 3250 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 87.3 mm | 86.4 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 111.1 mm | 91 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 6.8:1 | 11.3:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1955 kg | 1632 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4880 mm | 4440 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1790 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1710 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3030 mm | 2720 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 34 L | 63 L |
