1972 BMW 520 vs. 1963 Rover P5
To start off, 1972 BMW 520 is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1963 Rover P5. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1963 Rover P5 would be higher. At 2,993 cc (6 cylinders), 1963 Rover P5 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1972 BMW 520 (150 HP @ 5900 RPM) has 31 more horse power than 1963 Rover P5. (119 HP @ 4800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1972 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 1963 Rover P5. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1963 Rover P5 weights approximately 275 kg more than 1972 BMW 520.
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, 1963 Rover P5 (218 Nm @ 2650 RPM) has 28 more torque (in Nm) than 1972 BMW 520. (190 Nm @ 4200 RPM). This means 1963 Rover P5 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1972 BMW 520. 1963 Rover P5 has automatic transmission and 1972 BMW 520 has manual transmission. 1972 BMW 520 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1963 Rover P5 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1972 BMW 520 | 1963 Rover P5 | |
| Make | BMW | Rover |
| Model | 520 | P5 |
| Year Released | 1972 | 1963 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1991 cc | 2993 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 150 HP | 119 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5900 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Torque | 190 Nm | 218 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4200 RPM | 2650 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 77.8 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 105 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 11.0:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1445 kg | 1720 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4630 mm | 4750 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1700 mm | 1790 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1480 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2820 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 80 L | 45 L |
