1957 Ford Consul vs. 1981 Volvo 343
To start off, 1981 Volvo 343 is newer by 24 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1957 Ford Consul. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1957 Ford Consul would be higher. At 1,701 cc (4 cylinders), 1957 Ford Consul is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Volvo 343 (70 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 19 more horse power than 1957 Ford Consul. (51 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Volvo 343 should accelerate faster than 1957 Ford Consul. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1957 Ford Consul weights approximately 90 kg more than 1981 Volvo 343.
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, 1957 Ford Consul (127 Nm @ 2300 RPM) has 19 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Volvo 343. (108 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1957 Ford Consul will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Volvo 343. 1981 Volvo 343 has automatic transmission and 1957 Ford Consul has manual transmission. 1957 Ford Consul will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Volvo 343 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1957 Ford Consul | 1981 Volvo 343 | |
| Make | Ford | Volvo |
| Model | Consul | 343 |
| Year Released | 1957 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1701 cc | 1397 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 51 HP | 70 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 127 Nm | 108 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2300 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1080 kg | 990 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4380 mm | 4210 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1750 mm | 1670 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1570 mm | 1400 mm |
