1981 BMW 518 vs. 1948 Ford Prefect
To start off, 1981 BMW 518 is newer by 33 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1948 Ford Prefect. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1948 Ford Prefect would be higher. At 1,766 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 BMW 518 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 BMW 518 (90 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 59 more horse power than 1948 Ford Prefect. (31 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1981 BMW 518 should accelerate faster than 1948 Ford Prefect. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 BMW 518 weights approximately 303 kg more than 1948 Ford Prefect. 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, 1981 BMW 518 (140 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 77 more torque (in Nm) than 1948 Ford Prefect. (63 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1981 BMW 518 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1948 Ford Prefect.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 BMW 518 | 1948 Ford Prefect | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 518 | Prefect |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1948 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1766 cc | 1172 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 90 HP | 31 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 140 Nm | 63 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 89 mm | 63.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 71.1 mm | 92.5 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 6.2:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1140 kg | 837 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4630 mm | 3980 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1450 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2630 mm | 2390 mm |
