1959 Abarth 850 vs. 1970 Ford Escort
To start off, 1970 Ford Escort is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Abarth 850. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Abarth 850 would be higher. At 1,098 cc (4 cylinders), 1970 Ford Escort is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1959 Abarth 850 (70 HP @ 6800 RPM) has 32 more horse power than 1970 Ford Escort. (38 HP @ 5300 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1959 Abarth 850 should accelerate faster than 1970 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1970 Ford Escort weights approximately 235 kg more than 1959 Abarth 850.
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 Abarth 850 (80 Nm @ 4800 RPM) has 12 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Ford Escort. (68 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1959 Abarth 850 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Ford Escort. 1970 Ford Escort has automatic transmission and 1959 Abarth 850 has manual transmission. 1959 Abarth 850 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1970 Ford Escort will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Abarth 850 | 1970 Ford Escort | |
| Make | Abarth | Ford |
| Model | 850 | Escort |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1970 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 847 cc | 1098 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 70 HP | 38 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6800 RPM | 5300 RPM |
| Torque | 80 Nm | 68 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4800 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 570 kg | 805 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3480 mm | 3990 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1360 mm | 1580 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1150 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2010 mm | 2400 mm |
