1971 BMW 3 vs. 1973 Ford Fairlane
To start off, 1973 Ford Fairlane is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 BMW 3. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 BMW 3 would be higher. At 4,097 cc (6 cylinders), 1973 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 BMW 3 (180 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 30 more horse power than 1973 Ford Fairlane. (150 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 BMW 3 should accelerate faster than 1973 Ford Fairlane. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Ford Fairlane weights approximately 70 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, 1973 Ford Fairlane (339 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 84 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 BMW 3. (255 Nm @ 3700 RPM). This means 1973 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 BMW 3.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 BMW 3 | 1973 Ford Fairlane | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 3 | Fairlane |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1973 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2986 cc | 4097 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 180 HP | 150 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 255 Nm | 339 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3700 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 89 mm | 93.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 80 mm | 99.3 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.3:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1380 kg | 1450 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4740 mm | 5060 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1700 mm | 1910 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2670 mm | 2950 mm |
