1952 BMW 501 vs. 1976 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1976 Ford Cortina is newer by 24 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1952 BMW 501. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1952 BMW 501 would be higher. At 1,971 cc (6 cylinders), 1952 BMW 501 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Ford Cortina (73 HP @ 5300 RPM) has 1 more horse power than 1952 BMW 501. (72 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1976 Ford Cortina should accelerate faster than 1952 BMW 501. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1952 BMW 501 weights approximately 171 kg more than 1976 Ford Cortina.
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.
Compare all specifications:
| 1952 BMW 501 | 1976 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 501 | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1952 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1971 cc | 1593 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 72 HP | 73 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 5300 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 6.8:1 | 9.2:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 3 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1285 kg | 1114 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4810 mm | 4450 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1560 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2590 mm |
