1972 Ford Fairlane vs. 1978 Opel Senator
To start off, 1978 Opel Senator is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1972 Ford Fairlane. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1972 Ford Fairlane would be higher. At 4,097 cc (6 cylinders), 1972 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1972 Ford Fairlane (153 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 38 more horse power than 1978 Opel Senator. (115 HP @ 5600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1972 Ford Fairlane should accelerate faster than 1978 Opel Senator. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1972 Ford Fairlane weights approximately 115 kg more than 1978 Opel Senator. 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 Ford Fairlane (326 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 166 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Opel Senator. (160 Nm @ 4200 RPM). This means 1972 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Opel Senator.
Compare all specifications:
| 1972 Ford Fairlane | 1978 Opel Senator | |
| Make | Ford | Opel |
| Model | Fairlane | Senator |
| Year Released | 1972 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4097 cc | 1979 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 153 HP | 115 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 326 Nm | 160 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1600 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 93.5 mm | 95 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 99.3 mm | 69.8 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1450 kg | 1335 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5060 mm | 4850 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1910 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1410 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2950 mm | 2690 mm |
