1957 BMW 501 vs. 1976 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1976 Ford Cortina is newer by 19 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1957 BMW 501. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1957 BMW 501 would be higher. At 3,168 cc (8 cylinders), 1957 BMW 501 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1957 BMW 501 (138 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 65 more horse power than 1976 Ford Cortina. (73 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1957 BMW 501 should accelerate faster than 1976 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1957 BMW 501 weights approximately 291 kg more than 1976 Ford Cortina. 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, 1957 BMW 501 (223 Nm @ 2500 RPM) has 106 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Ford Cortina. (117 Nm @ 2700 RPM). This means 1957 BMW 501 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1957 BMW 501 | 1976 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 501 | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1957 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3168 cc | 1593 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 73 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 223 Nm | 117 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 2700 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82 mm | 87.7 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 75 mm | 66 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1405 kg | 1114 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4740 mm | 4490 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1790 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1540 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2590 mm |
