1972 Ford Cortina vs. 2011 BMW 530
To start off, 2011 BMW 530 is newer by 39 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1972 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1972 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 2,996 cc (6 cylinders), 2011 BMW 530 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2011 BMW 530 (271 HP @ 6100 RPM) has 215 more horse power than 1972 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2011 BMW 530 should accelerate faster than 1972 Ford Cortina.
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, 2011 BMW 530 (310 Nm @ 4250 RPM) has 219 more torque (in Nm) than 1972 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 2011 BMW 530 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1972 Ford Cortina. 2011 BMW 530 has automatic transmission and 1972 Ford Cortina has manual transmission. 1972 Ford Cortina will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2011 BMW 530 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1972 Ford Cortina | 2011 BMW 530 | |
| Make | Ford | BMW |
| Model | Cortina | 530 |
| Year Released | 1972 | 2011 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1298 cc | 2996 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 56 HP | 271 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 6100 RPM |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 310 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 4250 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 88 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 63 mm | 85 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | 8-speed shiftable automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 5 doors |
| Vehicle Length | 4280 mm | 4907 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1462 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2968 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 87 L | 70 L |
