1971 BMW 3 vs. 1969 Chevrolet Impala
To start off, 1971 BMW 3 is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1969 Chevrolet Impala. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1969 Chevrolet Impala would be higher. At 5,733 cc (8 cylinders), 1969 Chevrolet Impala is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 BMW 3 (170 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 4 more horse power than 1969 Chevrolet Impala. (166 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 BMW 3 should accelerate faster than 1969 Chevrolet Impala. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1969 Chevrolet Impala weights approximately 515 kg more than 1971 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, 1969 Chevrolet Impala (387 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 133 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 BMW 3. (254 Nm @ 3700 RPM). This means 1969 Chevrolet Impala will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 BMW 3.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 BMW 3 | 1969 Chevrolet Impala | |
| Make | BMW | Chevrolet |
| Model | 3 | Impala |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1969 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2986 cc | 5733 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 170 HP | 166 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 254 Nm | 387 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3700 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 89 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 80 mm | 88.4 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.1:1 | 11.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1380 kg | 1895 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4720 mm | 5600 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 2030 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1460 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2700 mm | 3100 mm |
