1956 Chevrolet Bel Air vs. 1975 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1975 Ford Cortina is newer by 19 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air would be higher. At 3,869 cc (6 cylinders), 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air (148 HP @ 4200 RPM) has 92 more horse power than 1975 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air should accelerate faster than 1975 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, 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air (278 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 187 more torque (in Nm) than 1975 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1975 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air | 1975 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Chevrolet | Ford |
| Model | Bel Air | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1956 | 1975 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3869 cc | 1298 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 148 HP | 56 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4200 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 278 Nm | 91 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 90.5 mm | 81 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 100 mm | 63 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.3:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Length | 4980 mm | 4270 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1980 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1690 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2930 mm | 2570 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 79 L | 55 L |
