1959 Abarth Spider Riviera vs. 1960 Ford Taunus
To start off, 1960 Ford Taunus is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Abarth Spider Riviera. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Abarth Spider Riviera would be higher. At 1,758 cc (4 cylinders), 1960 Ford Taunus is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1960 Ford Taunus (70 HP @ 4500 RPM) has 23 more horse power than 1959 Abarth Spider Riviera. (47 HP @ 5900 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1960 Ford Taunus should accelerate faster than 1959 Abarth Spider Riviera. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1960 Ford Taunus weights approximately 386 kg more than 1959 Abarth Spider Riviera. 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, 1960 Ford Taunus (140 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 83 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Abarth Spider Riviera. (57 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1960 Ford Taunus will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Abarth Spider Riviera.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Abarth Spider Riviera | 1960 Ford Taunus | |
| Make | Abarth | Ford |
| Model | Spider Riviera | Taunus |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1960 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 785 cc | 1758 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 47 HP | 70 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5900 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Torque | 57 Nm | 140 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3600 RPM | 2200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 62.5 mm | 82.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 64 mm | 82 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 610 kg | 996 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3640 mm | 4460 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1410 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1460 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2010 mm | 2640 mm |
