1978 BMW 520 vs. 1974 Ford Fairlane
To start off, 1978 BMW 520 is newer by 4 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, 1974 Ford Fairlane (153 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 18 more horse power than 1978 BMW 520. (135 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1974 Ford Fairlane should accelerate faster than 1978 BMW 520. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 BMW 520 weights approximately 218 kg more than 1974 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, 1974 Ford Fairlane (325 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 45 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 BMW 520. (280 Nm @ 1750 RPM). This means 1974 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 BMW 520.
Compare all specifications:
1978 BMW 520 | 1974 Ford Fairlane | |
Make | BMW | Ford |
Model | 520 | Fairlane |
Year Released | 1978 | 1974 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1951 cc | 3984 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 135 HP | 153 HP |
Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Torque | 280 Nm | 325 Nm |
Torque RPM | 1750 RPM | 1600 RPM |
Engine Compression Ratio | 19.0:1 | 9.3:1 |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
Vehicle Weight | 1670 kg | 1452 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4810 mm | 5060 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1910 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1410 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2950 mm |