1953 Ford Prefect vs. 1978 Daihatsu Charmant
To start off, 1978 Daihatsu Charmant is newer by 25 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1953 Ford Prefect. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1953 Ford Prefect would be higher. At 1,587 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Daihatsu Charmant is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Daihatsu Charmant (82 HP @ 5600 RPM) has 51 more horse power than 1953 Ford Prefect. (31 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Daihatsu Charmant should accelerate faster than 1953 Ford Prefect. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Daihatsu Charmant weights approximately 150 kg more than 1953 Ford Prefect. 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, 1978 Daihatsu Charmant (130 Nm @ 3400 RPM) has 59 more torque (in Nm) than 1953 Ford Prefect. (71 Nm @ 2150 RPM). This means 1978 Daihatsu Charmant will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1953 Ford Prefect. 1978 Daihatsu Charmant has automatic transmission and 1953 Ford Prefect has manual transmission. 1953 Ford Prefect will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Daihatsu Charmant will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1953 Ford Prefect | 1978 Daihatsu Charmant | |
| Make | Ford | Daihatsu |
| Model | Prefect | Charmant |
| Year Released | 1953 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1172 cc | 1587 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 31 HP | 82 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 71 Nm | 130 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2150 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 765 kg | 915 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3850 mm | 4000 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1550 mm | 1530 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1500 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2220 mm | 2340 mm |
