1977 BMW 520 vs. 1973 Ford Fairlane
To start off, 1977 BMW 520 is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Ford Fairlane. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Ford Fairlane would be higher. At 4,097 cc (6 cylinders), 1973 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1973 Ford Fairlane (150 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 16 more horse power than 1977 BMW 520. (134 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1973 Ford Fairlane should accelerate faster than 1977 BMW 520. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1977 BMW 520 weights approximately 115 kg more than 1973 Ford Fairlane.
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, 1973 Ford Fairlane (339 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 59 more torque (in Nm) than 1977 BMW 520. (280 Nm @ 1750 RPM). This means 1973 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1977 BMW 520.
Compare all specifications:
| 1977 BMW 520 | 1973 Ford Fairlane | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 520 | Fairlane |
| Year Released | 1977 | 1973 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1951 cc | 4097 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 134 HP | 150 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 280 Nm | 339 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1750 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 93.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 88 mm | 99.3 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 19.0:1 | 9.3:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1565 kg | 1450 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 5060 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1910 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2950 mm |
