1955 Austin A 55 vs. 1976 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1976 Ford Cortina is newer by 21 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1955 Austin A 55. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1955 Austin A 55 would be higher. At 1,489 cc (4 cylinders), 1955 Austin A 55 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Ford Cortina (56 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 5 more horse power than 1955 Austin A 55. (51 HP @ 4250 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1976 Ford Cortina should accelerate faster than 1955 Austin A 55. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1955 Austin A 55 weights approximately 110 kg more than 1976 Ford Cortina.
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, 1955 Austin A 55 (110 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 19 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1955 Austin A 55 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1955 Austin A 55 | 1976 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Austin | Ford |
| Model | A 55 | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1955 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1489 cc | 1298 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 51 HP | 56 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4250 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 110 Nm | 91 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1055 kg | 945 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4250 mm | 4270 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1570 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1570 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2530 mm | 2450 mm |
