1978 BMW 730 vs. 1961 Jensen 541
To start off, 1978 BMW 730 is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1961 Jensen 541. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1961 Jensen 541 would be higher. At 3,993 cc (6 cylinders), 1961 Jensen 541 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 BMW 730 (185 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 56 more horse power than 1961 Jensen 541. (129 HP @ 4100 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 BMW 730 should accelerate faster than 1961 Jensen 541. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 BMW 730 weights approximately 35 kg more than 1961 Jensen 541. 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, 1961 Jensen 541 (310 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 80 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 BMW 730. (230 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1961 Jensen 541 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 BMW 730.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 BMW 730 | 1961 Jensen 541 | |
| Make | BMW | Jensen |
| Model | 730 | 541 |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1961 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2788 cc | 3993 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 185 HP | 129 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 4100 RPM |
| Torque | 230 Nm | 310 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.0:1 | 7.6:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1510 kg | 1475 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 4530 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1610 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2810 mm | 2670 mm |
