1972 BMW 520 vs. 1979 Ford Thunderbird
To start off, 1979 Ford Thunderbird is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1972 BMW 520. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1972 BMW 520 would be higher. At 5,731 cc (8 cylinders), 1979 Ford Thunderbird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1972 BMW 520 (150 HP @ 5900 RPM) has 15 more horse power than 1979 Ford Thunderbird. (135 HP @ 3200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1972 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 1979 Ford Thunderbird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Ford Thunderbird weights approximately 368 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, 1979 Ford Thunderbird (386 Nm @ 1400 RPM) has 196 more torque (in Nm) than 1972 BMW 520. (190 Nm @ 4200 RPM). This means 1979 Ford Thunderbird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1972 BMW 520. 1979 Ford Thunderbird 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. 1979 Ford Thunderbird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1972 BMW 520 | 1979 Ford Thunderbird | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 520 | Thunderbird |
| Year Released | 1972 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1991 cc | 5731 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 150 HP | 135 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5900 RPM | 3200 RPM |
| Torque | 190 Nm | 386 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4200 RPM | 1400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 88.8 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 11.0:1 | 8.3:1 |
| Top Speed | 211 km/hour | 170 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1445 kg | 1813 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4630 mm | 5520 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1700 mm | 2000 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2900 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 80 L | 80 L |
