1988 BMW 525 vs. 1959 Ford 17M
To start off, 1988 BMW 525 is newer by 29 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Ford 17M. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Ford 17M would be higher. At 2,443 cc (6 cylinders), 1988 BMW 525 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 BMW 525 (168 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 109 more horse power than 1959 Ford 17M. (59 HP @ 4250 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 BMW 525 should accelerate faster than 1959 Ford 17M. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 BMW 525 weights approximately 345 kg more than 1959 Ford 17M. 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, 1988 BMW 525 (226 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 106 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Ford 17M. (120 Nm @ 2200 RPM). This means 1988 BMW 525 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Ford 17M.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 BMW 525 | 1959 Ford 17M | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 525 | 17M |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1959 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2443 cc | 1697 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 168 HP | 59 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 4250 RPM |
| Torque | 226 Nm | 120 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82.1 mm | 84 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 78.8 mm | 76.6 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 11.0:1 | 7.1:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1460 kg | 1115 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1510 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2610 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 55 L |
