1974 Ford Fairlane vs. 1981 BMW M1
To start off, 1981 BMW M1 is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Ford Fairlane. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Ford Fairlane would be higher. At 3,984 cc (6 cylinders), 1974 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 BMW M1 (273 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 120 more horse power than 1974 Ford Fairlane. (153 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 BMW M1 should accelerate faster than 1974 Ford Fairlane. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Ford Fairlane weights approximately 152 kg more than 1981 BMW M1.
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, 1981 BMW M1 (330 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 5 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Ford Fairlane. (325 Nm @ 1600 RPM). This means 1981 BMW M1 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Ford Fairlane.
Compare all specifications:
| 1974 Ford Fairlane | 1981 BMW M1 | |
| Make | Ford | BMW |
| Model | Fairlane | M1 |
| Year Released | 1974 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 3984 cc | 3453 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 153 HP | 273 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 325 Nm | 330 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1600 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.3:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1452 kg | 1300 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5060 mm | 4370 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1910 mm | 1830 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1410 mm | 1140 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2950 mm | 2570 mm |
