1958 Fiat 500 vs. 1959 Ford Prefect
To start off, 1959 Ford Prefect is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1958 Fiat 500. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1958 Fiat 500 would be higher. At 1,172 cc (4 cylinders), 1959 Ford Prefect is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1959 Ford Prefect (31 HP @ 4500 RPM) has 17 more horse power than 1958 Fiat 500. (14 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1959 Ford Prefect should accelerate faster than 1958 Fiat 500. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1959 Ford Prefect weights approximately 295 kg more than 1958 Fiat 500. 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, 1959 Ford Prefect (71 Nm @ 2150 RPM) has 47 more torque (in Nm) than 1958 Fiat 500. (24 Nm @ 3400 RPM). This means 1959 Ford Prefect will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1958 Fiat 500.
Compare all specifications:
| 1958 Fiat 500 | 1959 Ford Prefect | |
| Make | Fiat | Ford |
| Model | 500 | Prefect |
| Year Released | 1958 | 1959 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 479 cc | 1172 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 2 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 14 HP | 31 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Torque | 24 Nm | 71 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3400 RPM | 2150 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 67.4 mm | 63.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 70 mm | 92.5 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 470 kg | 765 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 2980 mm | 3850 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1330 mm | 1550 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1500 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 1850 mm | 2220 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 37 L | 54 L |
