1972 BMW 520 vs. 1970 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1972 BMW 520 is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 1,993 cc (4 cylinders), 1970 Ford Cortina is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1972 BMW 520 (150 HP @ 5900 RPM) has 53 more horse power than 1970 Ford Cortina. (97 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1972 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 1970 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1972 BMW 520 weights approximately 443 kg more than 1970 Ford Cortina. 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 520 (190 Nm @ 4200 RPM) has 39 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Ford Cortina. (151 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1972 BMW 520 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1972 BMW 520 | 1970 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 520 | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1972 | 1970 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1991 cc | 1993 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 150 HP | 97 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5900 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 190 Nm | 151 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4200 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 90.8 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 77 mm |
| Top Speed | 211 km/hour | 169 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1445 kg | 1002 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4630 mm | 4280 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1700 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2590 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 80 L | 87 L |
