1953 Chevrolet Bel Air vs. 1968 Ford Escort
To start off, 1968 Ford Escort is newer by 15 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air would be higher. At 3,859 cc (6 cylinders), 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air (115 HP @ 3700 RPM) has 51 more horse power than 1968 Ford Escort. (64 HP @ 5700 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air should accelerate faster than 1968 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air weights approximately 612 kg more than 1968 Ford Escort. 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, 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air (271 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 170 more torque (in Nm) than 1968 Ford Escort. (101 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1968 Ford Escort. 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air has automatic transmission and 1968 Ford Escort has manual transmission. 1968 Ford Escort will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air | 1968 Ford Escort | |
| Make | Chevrolet | Ford |
| Model | Bel Air | Escort |
| Year Released | 1953 | 1968 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3859 cc | 1298 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 115 HP | 64 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3700 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 271 Nm | 101 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1483 kg | 871 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4980 mm | 4090 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1910 mm | 1570 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1650 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2930 mm | 2400 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 60 L | 41 L |
