1956 Ford Escort vs. 1978 Fiat 131
To start off, 1978 Fiat 131 is newer by 22 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1956 Ford Escort. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1956 Ford Escort would be higher. At 1,995 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Fiat 131 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Fiat 131 (59 HP @ 4400 RPM) has 28 more horse power than 1956 Ford Escort. (31 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Fiat 131 should accelerate faster than 1956 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Fiat 131 weights approximately 363 kg more than 1956 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, 1978 Fiat 131 (113 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 41 more torque (in Nm) than 1956 Ford Escort. (72 Nm @ 2150 RPM). This means 1978 Fiat 131 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1956 Ford Escort. 1978 Fiat 131 has automatic transmission and 1956 Ford Escort has manual transmission. 1956 Ford Escort will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Fiat 131 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1956 Ford Escort | 1978 Fiat 131 | |
| Make | Ford | Fiat |
| Model | Escort | 131 |
| Year Released | 1956 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1172 cc | 1995 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 31 HP | 59 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 72 Nm | 113 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2150 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 63.5 mm | 88 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 92.5 mm | 82 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Diesel |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 817 kg | 1180 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3810 mm | 4270 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1550 mm | 1660 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1500 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2220 mm | 2500 mm |
