I've been looking at 3.0 ltr petrol 5 series estates on Autotrader and thought that the MPG figures claimed were BS, but having seen Tunnies and now your MPG, I'm thinking they are probably about right afterall. 
Quite impressive for a big petrol straight 6. 
I suppose the march of technology has made cars more efficient and frugal over the passing decades.
Fuel injection is more efficient that carbs, especially when needles and jets get worn causing the car to run 'rich'
Set and forget electronic ignition will be more efficient than worn and pitted contact points.
Cars run with higher gearing these days with 50 MPH requiring only around 1200 RPM in 8th gear. Most cars in the seventies needed about 3000 RPM in top (4th) to see 50 MPH.
Having said this the Mexican is not helped by being a 'fat bastard' at around 1700KG......a decent 2 door coupe of yesteryear, like a 3 litre Capri, weighed in at around 1000 KG.
