1997 BMW S3 vs. 1973 Ford Fairlane
To start off, 1997 BMW S3 is newer by 24 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Ford Fairlane. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Ford Fairlane would be higher. At 4,097 cc (6 cylinders), 1973 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 BMW S3 (260 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 110 more horse power than 1973 Ford Fairlane. (150 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1997 BMW S3 should accelerate faster than 1973 Ford Fairlane. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Ford Fairlane weights approximately 82 kg more than 1997 BMW S3.
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, 1973 Ford Fairlane (339 Nm) has 9 more torque (in Nm) than 1997 BMW S3. (330 Nm). This means 1973 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1997 BMW S3.
Compare all specifications:
| 1997 BMW S3 | 1973 Ford Fairlane | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | S3 | Fairlane |
| Year Released | 1997 | 1973 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3201 cc | 4097 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 260 HP | 150 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 330 Nm | 339 Nm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.2:1 | 9.3:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1368 kg | 1450 kg |
| Vehicle Width | 1720 mm | 1910 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2710 mm | 2950 mm |
