1955 Buick 40 vs. 1974 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1974 Ford Cortina is newer by 19 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1955 Buick 40. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1955 Buick 40 would be higher. At 5,277 cc (8 cylinders), 1955 Buick 40 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1955 Buick 40 (234 HP @ 4600 RPM) has 178 more horse power than 1974 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1955 Buick 40 should accelerate faster than 1974 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1955 Buick 40 weights approximately 685 kg more than 1974 Ford Cortina. 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, 1955 Buick 40 (447 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 356 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1955 Buick 40 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1955 Buick 40 | 1974 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Buick | Ford |
| Model | 40 | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1955 | 1974 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5277 cc | 1298 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 234 HP | 56 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4600 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 447 Nm | 91 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 1725 kg | 1040 kg |
| Wheelbase Size | 3110 mm | 2590 mm |
