1972 BMW 520 vs. 1984 Ford Crown Victoria
To start off, 1984 Ford Crown Victoria is newer by 12 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 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1984 Ford Crown Victoria is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1984 Ford Crown Victoria (143 HP @ 3600 RPM) has 30 more horse power than 1972 BMW 520. (113 HP @ 5800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1984 Ford Crown Victoria should accelerate faster than 1972 BMW 520. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1984 Ford Crown Victoria weights approximately 460 kg more than 1972 BMW 520. 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, 1984 Ford Crown Victoria (338 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 173 more torque (in Nm) than 1972 BMW 520. (165 Nm @ 3700 RPM). This means 1984 Ford Crown Victoria will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1972 BMW 520. 1984 Ford Crown Victoria 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. 1984 Ford Crown Victoria will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1972 BMW 520 | 1984 Ford Crown Victoria | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 520 | Crown Victoria |
| Year Released | 1972 | 1984 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1989 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 113 HP | 143 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 165 Nm | 338 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3700 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 89 mm | 101.7 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 80 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1230 kg | 1690 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4630 mm | 5320 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1700 mm | 1980 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2640 mm | 2910 mm |
