1959 Ford 17M 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 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, 1976 Ford Cortina (90 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 31 more horse power than 1959 Ford 17M. (59 HP @ 4250 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1976 Ford Cortina should accelerate faster than 1959 Ford 17M. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1959 Ford 17M weights approximately 1 kg more than 1976 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, 1976 Ford Cortina (122 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 2 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Ford 17M. (120 Nm @ 2200 RPM). This means 1976 Ford Cortina will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Ford 17M.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Ford 17M | 1976 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Ford | Ford |
| Model | 17M | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1697 cc | 1593 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 59 HP | 90 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4250 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 120 Nm | 122 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 87.7 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 76.6 mm | 66 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 7.1:1 | 9.2:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 3 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1115 kg | 1114 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4380 mm | 4490 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1510 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2610 mm | 2590 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 55 L | 54 L |
