1959 Ford 17M vs. 1960 Sunbeam Alpine
To start off, 1960 Sunbeam Alpine is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Ford 17M. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Ford 17M would be higher. At 1,697 cc (4 cylinders), 1959 Ford 17M is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1960 Sunbeam Alpine (79 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 20 more horse power than 1959 Ford 17M. (59 HP @ 4250 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1960 Sunbeam Alpine should accelerate faster than 1959 Ford 17M. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1959 Ford 17M weights approximately 120 kg more than 1960 Sunbeam Alpine.
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 Sunbeam Alpine (127 Nm @ 3400 RPM) has 7 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Ford 17M. (120 Nm @ 2200 RPM). This means 1960 Sunbeam Alpine will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Ford 17M.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Ford 17M | 1960 Sunbeam Alpine | |
| Make | Ford | Sunbeam |
| Model | 17M | Alpine |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1960 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1697 cc | 1591 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 59 HP | 79 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4250 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 120 Nm | 127 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 81.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 76.6 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 7.1:1 | 9.1:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1115 kg | 995 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4380 mm | 3950 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 1540 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1510 mm | 1310 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2610 mm | 2190 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 55 L | 40 L |
