1959 Abarth Spider Riviera vs. 1978 Ford Taunus
To start off, 1978 Ford Taunus is newer by 19 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 1,294 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Ford Taunus is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Ford Taunus (53 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 6 more horse power than 1959 Abarth Spider Riviera. (47 HP @ 5900 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Ford Taunus should accelerate faster than 1959 Abarth Spider Riviera. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Ford Taunus weights approximately 410 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, 1978 Ford Taunus (92 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 35 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Abarth Spider Riviera. (57 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1978 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 | 1978 Ford Taunus | |
| Make | Abarth | Ford |
| Model | Spider Riviera | Taunus |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 785 cc | 1294 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 47 HP | 53 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5900 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 57 Nm | 92 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3600 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 62.5 mm | 79 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 64 mm | 66 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 610 kg | 1020 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3640 mm | 4350 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1410 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2010 mm | 2580 mm |
