1959 Abarth 850 vs. 1976 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1976 Ford Cortina is newer by 17 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 2,294 cc (6 cylinders), 1976 Ford Cortina is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Ford Cortina (107 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 37 more horse power than 1959 Abarth 850. (70 HP @ 6800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1976 Ford Cortina should accelerate faster than 1959 Abarth 850. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Ford Cortina weights approximately 520 kg more than 1959 Abarth 850. 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, 1976 Ford Cortina (177 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 97 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Abarth 850. (80 Nm @ 4800 RPM). This means 1976 Ford Cortina will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Abarth 850. 1976 Ford Cortina 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. 1976 Ford Cortina will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Abarth 850 | 1976 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Abarth | Ford |
| Model | 850 | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 847 cc | 2294 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 70 HP | 107 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6800 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 80 Nm | 177 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4800 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 570 kg | 1090 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3480 mm | 4390 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1360 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1150 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2010 mm | 2590 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 30 L | 54 L |
