1971 BMW 3 vs. 1986 Ford Thunderbird
To start off, 1986 Ford Thunderbird is newer by 15 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 2,986 cc (6 cylinders), 1971 BMW 3 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 BMW 3 (170 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 8 more horse power than 1986 Ford Thunderbird. (162 HP @ 4600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 BMW 3 should accelerate faster than 1986 Ford Thunderbird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 BMW 3 weights approximately 2 kg more than 1986 Ford Thunderbird. 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 (254 Nm @ 3700 RPM) has 13 more torque (in Nm) than 1986 Ford Thunderbird. (241 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1971 BMW 3 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1986 Ford Thunderbird.
Compare all specifications:
1971 BMW 3 | 1986 Ford Thunderbird | |
Make | BMW | Ford |
Model | 3 | Thunderbird |
Year Released | 1971 | 1986 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 2986 cc | 2299 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 170 HP | 162 HP |
Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4600 RPM |
Torque | 254 Nm | 241 Nm |
Torque RPM | 3700 RPM | 3600 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 89 mm | 96 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 80 mm | 79.4 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 9.1:1 | 9.0:1 |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1380 kg | 1378 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4720 mm | 5030 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1810 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1460 mm | 1360 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2700 mm | 2650 mm |