2005 BMW 525 vs. 1973 Ford Cortina

To start off, 2005 BMW 525 is newer by 32 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 2,497 cc (6 cylinders), 2005 BMW 525 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2005 BMW 525 (215 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 159 more horse power than 1973 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2005 BMW 525 should accelerate faster than 1973 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2005 BMW 525 weights approximately 625 kg more than 1973 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, 2005 BMW 525 (250 Nm @ 2750 RPM) has 159 more torque (in Nm) than 1973 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 2005 BMW 525 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1973 Ford Cortina. 2005 BMW 525 has automatic transmission and 1973 Ford Cortina has manual transmission. 1973 Ford Cortina will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2005 BMW 525 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.

Compare all specifications:

2005 BMW 525 1973 Ford Cortina
Make BMW Ford
Model 525 Cortina
Year Released 2005 1973
Engine Position Front Front
Engine Size 2497 cc 1296 cc
Engine Cylinders 6 cylinders 4 cylinders
Engine Type in-line in-line
Horse Power 215 HP 56 HP
Engine RPM 6500 RPM 5500 RPM
Torque 250 Nm 91 Nm
Torque RPM 2750 RPM 3000 RPM
Engine Bore Size 82 mm 81 mm
Engine Stroke Size 78.8 mm 63 mm
Engine Compression Ratio 11.0:1 9.0:1
Drive Type Rear Rear
Transmission Type Automatic Manual
Number of Seats 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Doors 5 doors 4 doors
Vehicle Weight 1665 kg 1040 kg
Vehicle Length 4810 mm 4280 mm
Vehicle Width 1810 mm 1710 mm
Vehicle Height 1450 mm 1330 mm
Wheelbase Size 2730 mm 2590 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 70 L 87 L