1958 Ford Prefect vs. 1959 Porsche 356
To start off, 1959 Porsche 356 is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1958 Ford Prefect. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1958 Ford Prefect would be higher. At 1,582 cc (4 cylinders), 1959 Porsche 356 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1959 Porsche 356 (75 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 44 more horse power than 1958 Ford Prefect. (31 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1959 Porsche 356 should accelerate faster than 1958 Ford Prefect. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1959 Porsche 356 weights approximately 73 kg more than 1958 Ford Prefect. 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 Porsche 356 (119 Nm @ 3700 RPM) has 48 more torque (in Nm) than 1958 Ford Prefect. (71 Nm @ 2150 RPM). This means 1959 Porsche 356 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1958 Ford Prefect.
Compare all specifications:
| 1958 Ford Prefect | 1959 Porsche 356 | |
| Make | Ford | Porsche |
| Model | Prefect | 356 |
| Year Released | 1958 | 1959 |
| Engine Position | Front | Rear |
| Engine Size | 1172 cc | 1582 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | boxer |
| Horse Power | 31 HP | 75 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 71 Nm | 119 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2150 RPM | 3700 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 63.5 mm | 82.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 92.5 mm | 74 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 765 kg | 838 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3850 mm | 3960 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1550 mm | 1670 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1500 mm | 1310 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2220 mm | 2110 mm |
