1991 BMW 525 vs. 1974 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1991 BMW 525 is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 2,496 cc (6 cylinders), 1991 BMW 525 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1991 BMW 525 (143 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 87 more horse power than 1974 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1991 BMW 525 should accelerate faster than 1974 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1991 BMW 525 weights approximately 615 kg more than 1974 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, 1991 BMW 525 (260 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 169 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1991 BMW 525 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1991 BMW 525 | 1974 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 525 | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1991 | 1974 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2496 cc | 1298 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 143 HP | 56 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 260 Nm | 91 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 81 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 83 mm | 63 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 22.0:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Diesel | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1560 kg | 945 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 4270 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2590 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 80 L | 55 L |
