2009 BMW 120 vs. 1974 Ford Cortina
To start off, 2009 BMW 120 is newer by 35 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 1,995 cc (4 cylinders), 2009 BMW 120 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2009 BMW 120 (168 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 112 more horse power than 1974 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2009 BMW 120 should accelerate faster than 1974 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2009 BMW 120 weights approximately 580 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, 2009 BMW 120 (340 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 249 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 2009 BMW 120 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Ford Cortina. 2009 BMW 120 has automatic transmission and 1974 Ford Cortina has manual transmission. 1974 Ford Cortina will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2009 BMW 120 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2009 BMW 120 | 1974 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | BMW | Ford |
| Model | 120 | Cortina |
| Year Released | 2009 | 1974 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1995 cc | 1298 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 168 HP | 56 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 340 Nm | 91 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 81 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 90 mm | 63 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 16.0:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Diesel | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1525 kg | 945 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4230 mm | 4270 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1440 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1760 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2670 mm | 2590 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 51 L | 55 L |
