1972 BMW 3 vs. 1959 Lancia Appia
To start off, 1972 BMW 3 is newer by 13 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Lancia Appia. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Lancia Appia would be higher. At 3,003 cc (6 cylinders), 1972 BMW 3 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1972 BMW 3 (197 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 145 more horse power than 1959 Lancia Appia. (52 HP @ 4900 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1972 BMW 3 should accelerate faster than 1959 Lancia Appia. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1972 BMW 3 weights approximately 320 kg more than 1959 Lancia Appia. 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, 1972 BMW 3 (272 Nm @ 4300 RPM) has 185 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Lancia Appia. (87 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1972 BMW 3 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Lancia Appia.
Compare all specifications:
| 1972 BMW 3 | 1959 Lancia Appia | |
| Make | BMW | Lancia |
| Model | 3 | Appia |
| Year Released | 1972 | 1959 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3003 cc | 1090 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 197 HP | 52 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 4900 RPM |
| Torque | 272 Nm | 87 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4300 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1270 kg | 950 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4640 mm | 4160 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1740 mm | 1520 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2630 mm | 2520 mm |
