1958 Ford 17 vs. 1978 Nissan Skyline
To start off, 1978 Nissan Skyline is newer by 20 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1958 Ford 17. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1958 Ford 17 would be higher. At 1,698 cc (4 cylinders), 1958 Ford 17 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Nissan Skyline (89 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 30 more horse power than 1958 Ford 17. (59 HP @ 4250 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Nissan Skyline should accelerate faster than 1958 Ford 17. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1958 Ford 17 weights approximately 65 kg more than 1978 Nissan Skyline.
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 Nissan Skyline (133 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 4 more torque (in Nm) than 1958 Ford 17. (129 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1978 Nissan Skyline will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1958 Ford 17.
Compare all specifications:
| 1958 Ford 17 | 1978 Nissan Skyline | |
| Make | Ford | Nissan |
| Model | 17 | Skyline |
| Year Released | 1958 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1698 cc | 1595 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 59 HP | 89 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4250 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 129 Nm | 133 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1115 kg | 1050 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4380 mm | 4410 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 1630 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1520 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2610 mm | 2520 mm |
