1959 Abarth 500 vs. 1978 Ford Escort
To start off, 1978 Ford Escort is newer by 19 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Abarth 500. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Abarth 500 would be higher. At 938 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Ford Escort is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Ford Escort (45 HP) has 25 more horse power than 1959 Abarth 500. (20 HP) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Ford Escort should accelerate faster than 1959 Abarth 500. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Ford Escort weights approximately 465 kg more than 1959 Abarth 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, 1978 Ford Escort (60 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 28 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Abarth 500. (32 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1978 Ford Escort will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Abarth 500.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Abarth 500 | 1978 Ford Escort | |
| Make | Abarth | Ford |
| Model | 500 | Escort |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 479 cc | 938 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 2 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 20 HP | 45 HP |
| Torque | 32 Nm | 60 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 445 kg | 910 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 2980 mm | 4060 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1330 mm | 1570 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 1850 mm | 2410 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 27 L | 53 L |
