1969 Austin 3-Litre vs. 1972 BMW 3
To start off, 1972 BMW 3 is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1969 Austin 3-Litre. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1969 Austin 3-Litre would be higher. At 2,986 cc (6 cylinders), 1972 BMW 3 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1972 BMW 3 (201 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 77 more horse power than 1969 Austin 3-Litre. (124 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1972 BMW 3 should accelerate faster than 1969 Austin 3-Litre. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1969 Austin 3-Litre weights approximately 116 kg more than 1972 BMW 3.
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, 1972 BMW 3 (271 Nm @ 3700 RPM) has 53 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Austin 3-Litre. (218 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1972 BMW 3 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Austin 3-Litre.
Compare all specifications:
| 1969 Austin 3-Litre | 1972 BMW 3 | |
| Make | Austin | BMW |
| Model | 3-Litre | 3 |
| Year Released | 1969 | 1972 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2912 cc | 2986 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 124 HP | 201 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 218 Nm | 271 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 3700 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 83.4 mm | 89 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 88.9 mm | 80 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1490 kg | 1374 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4720 mm | 4660 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1700 mm | 1690 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2940 mm | 2620 mm |
