1972 BMW 3 vs. 1960 Jensen 541
To start off, 1972 BMW 3 is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1960 Jensen 541. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1960 Jensen 541 would be higher. At 3,990 cc (6 cylinders), 1960 Jensen 541 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1972 BMW 3 (201 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 72 more horse power than 1960 Jensen 541. (129 HP @ 4100 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1972 BMW 3 should accelerate faster than 1960 Jensen 541. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1960 Jensen 541 weights approximately 120 kg more than 1972 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, 1960 Jensen 541 (310 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 39 more torque (in Nm) than 1972 BMW 3. (271 Nm @ 3700 RPM). This means 1960 Jensen 541 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1972 BMW 3.
Compare all specifications:
| 1972 BMW 3 | 1960 Jensen 541 | |
| Make | BMW | Jensen |
| Model | 3 | 541 |
| Year Released | 1972 | 1960 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2986 cc | 3990 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 201 HP | 129 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 4100 RPM |
| Torque | 271 Nm | 310 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3700 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 89 mm | 87.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 80 mm | 111.1 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 7.4:1 |
| Top Speed | 224 km/hour | 177 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1374 kg | 1494 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4660 mm | 4530 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1690 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2620 mm | 2670 mm |
