1971 BMW 3 vs. 1968 Ford Escort
To start off, 1971 BMW 3 is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1968 Ford Escort. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1968 Ford Escort would be higher. At 2,986 cc (6 cylinders), 1971 BMW 3 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 BMW 3 (180 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 105 more horse power than 1968 Ford Escort. (75 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 BMW 3 should accelerate faster than 1968 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 BMW 3 weights approximately 550 kg more than 1968 Ford Escort. 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, 1971 BMW 3 (255 Nm @ 3700 RPM) has 154 more torque (in Nm) than 1968 Ford Escort. (101 Nm @ 4300 RPM). This means 1971 BMW 3 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1968 Ford Escort.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 BMW 3 | 1968 Ford Escort | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 3 | Escort |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1968 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2986 cc | 1296 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 180 HP | 75 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 255 Nm | 101 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3700 RPM | 4300 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 89 mm | 81 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 80 mm | 63 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.2:1 |
| Top Speed | 211 km/hour | 153 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1380 kg | 830 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4740 mm | 4020 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1700 mm | 1560 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2670 mm | 2370 mm |
