2012 BMW 520 vs. 1971 Sunbeam Alpine
To start off, 2012 BMW 520 is newer by 41 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Sunbeam Alpine. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Sunbeam Alpine would be higher. At 1,997 cc (4 cylinders), 2012 BMW 520 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2012 BMW 520 (182 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 111 more horse power than 1971 Sunbeam Alpine. (71 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2012 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 1971 Sunbeam Alpine. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2012 BMW 520 weights approximately 780 kg more than 1971 Sunbeam Alpine. 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, 2012 BMW 520 (270 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 147 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Sunbeam Alpine. (123 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 2012 BMW 520 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Sunbeam Alpine.
Compare all specifications:
| 2012 BMW 520 | 1971 Sunbeam Alpine | |
| Make | BMW | Sunbeam |
| Model | 520 | Alpine |
| Year Released | 2012 | 1971 |
| Engine Size | 1997 cc | 1725 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 182 HP | 71 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 270 Nm | 123 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | 8-speed shiftable automatic | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1790 kg | 1010 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4907 mm | 4430 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1650 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1462 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2968 mm | 2510 mm |
