1987 BMW 318 vs. 1971 Ford Zephyr
To start off, 1987 BMW 318 is newer by 16 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Ford Zephyr. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Ford Zephyr would be higher. At 1,996 cc (4 cylinders), 1971 Ford Zephyr is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1987 BMW 318 (114 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 33 more horse power than 1971 Ford Zephyr. (81 HP @ 4750 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1987 BMW 318 should accelerate faster than 1971 Ford Zephyr. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Ford Zephyr weights approximately 284 kg more than 1987 BMW 318.
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, 1987 BMW 318 (161 Nm @ 4250 RPM) has 8 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Ford Zephyr. (153 Nm @ 2750 RPM). This means 1987 BMW 318 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Ford Zephyr.
Compare all specifications:
| 1987 BMW 318 | 1971 Ford Zephyr | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 318 | Zephyr |
| Year Released | 1987 | 1971 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1796 cc | 1996 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 114 HP | 81 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 4750 RPM |
| Torque | 161 Nm | 153 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4250 RPM | 2750 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 93.7 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 81 mm | 72.4 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Premium | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 966 kg | 1250 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4330 mm | 4710 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1650 mm | 1820 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1490 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2580 mm | 2930 mm |
