1972 BMW 520 vs. 1979 Lancia Beta
To start off, 1979 Lancia Beta 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 1,994 cc (4 cylinders), 1979 Lancia Beta is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Lancia Beta (118 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 5 more horse power than 1972 BMW 520. (113 HP @ 5800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1979 Lancia Beta should accelerate faster than 1972 BMW 520. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1972 BMW 520 weights approximately 190 kg more than 1979 Lancia Beta.
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 Lancia Beta (171 Nm @ 3400 RPM) has 6 more torque (in Nm) than 1972 BMW 520. (165 Nm @ 3700 RPM). This means 1979 Lancia Beta will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1972 BMW 520.
Compare all specifications:
| 1972 BMW 520 | 1979 Lancia Beta | |
| Make | BMW | Lancia |
| Model | 520 | Beta |
| Year Released | 1972 | 1979 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1989 cc | 1994 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 113 HP | 118 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 165 Nm | 171 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3700 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 89 mm | 84 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 80 mm | 90 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Top Speed | 172 km/hour | 192 km/hour |
| Acceleration 0-100mph | 12.3 seconds | 9.3 seconds |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1230 kg | 1040 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4630 mm | 3820 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1700 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2640 mm | 2360 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 59 L |
