1988 BMW 520 vs. 1976 Ford Thunderbird
To start off, 1988 BMW 520 is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 Ford Thunderbird. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 Ford Thunderbird would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1976 Ford Thunderbird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Ford Thunderbird (135 HP @ 3400 RPM) has 6 more horse power than 1988 BMW 520. (129 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1976 Ford Thunderbird should accelerate faster than 1988 BMW 520. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Ford Thunderbird weights approximately 50 kg more than 1988 BMW 520. 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, 1976 Ford Thunderbird (317 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 143 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 BMW 520. (174 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1976 Ford Thunderbird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1988 BMW 520.
Compare all specifications:
1988 BMW 520 | 1976 Ford Thunderbird | |
Make | BMW | Ford |
Model | 520 | Thunderbird |
Year Released | 1988 | 1976 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1989 cc | 4942 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | V |
Horse Power | 129 HP | 135 HP |
Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 3400 RPM |
Torque | 174 Nm | 317 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 1600 RPM |
Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 8.4:1 |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Automatic | Automatic |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1570 kg | 1620 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 5100 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1890 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1350 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2760 mm |