1988 BMW 525 vs. 1962 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1988 BMW 525 is newer by 26 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1962 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1962 Ford Cortina 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 120 more horse power than 1962 Ford Cortina. (48 HP @ 4800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 BMW 525 should accelerate faster than 1962 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 BMW 525 weights approximately 682 kg more than 1962 Ford Cortina. 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 136 more torque (in Nm) than 1962 Ford Cortina. (90 Nm @ 2700 RPM). This means 1988 BMW 525 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1962 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 BMW 525 | 1962 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 525 | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1962 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2443 cc | 1198 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 168 HP | 48 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Torque | 226 Nm | 90 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2700 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82.1 mm | 81.1 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 78.8 mm | 58.1 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 11.0:1 | 8.7:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1460 kg | 778 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 4280 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1590 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1450 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2500 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 36 L |
