1959 Austin A 55 vs. 1970 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1970 Ford Cortina is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Austin A 55. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Austin A 55 would be higher. At 1,593 cc (4 cylinders), 1970 Ford Cortina is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1970 Ford Cortina (88 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 34 more horse power than 1959 Austin A 55. (54 HP @ 4350 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1970 Ford Cortina should accelerate faster than 1959 Austin A 55. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1959 Austin A 55 weights approximately 130 kg more than 1970 Ford Cortina.
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, 1970 Ford Cortina (125 Nm) has 57 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Austin A 55. (68 Nm). This means 1970 Ford Cortina will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Austin A 55.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Austin A 55 | 1970 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Austin | Ford |
| Model | A 55 | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1970 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1489 cc | 1593 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 54 HP | 88 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4350 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 68 Nm | 125 Nm |
| Engine Bore Size | 73 mm | 87.8 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 88.9 mm | 66 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.3:1 | 9.2:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1120 kg | 990 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4460 mm | 4270 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1620 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2530 mm | 2590 mm |
