1959 Ford 17M vs. 1988 Pontiac Grand Safari
To start off, 1988 Pontiac Grand Safari is newer by 29 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 5,031 cc (8 cylinders), 1988 Pontiac Grand Safari is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Pontiac Grand Safari (138 HP @ 3200 RPM) has 79 more horse power than 1959 Ford 17M. (59 HP @ 4250 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1988 Pontiac Grand Safari should accelerate faster than 1959 Ford 17M. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 Pontiac Grand Safari weights approximately 770 kg more than 1959 Ford 17M. 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, 1988 Pontiac Grand Safari (346 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 226 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Ford 17M. (120 Nm @ 2200 RPM). This means 1988 Pontiac Grand Safari will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Ford 17M. 1988 Pontiac Grand Safari has automatic transmission and 1959 Ford 17M has manual transmission. 1959 Ford 17M will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1988 Pontiac Grand Safari will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Ford 17M | 1988 Pontiac Grand Safari | |
| Make | Ford | Pontiac |
| Model | 17M | Grand Safari |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1988 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1697 cc | 5031 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 59 HP | 138 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4250 RPM | 3200 RPM |
| Torque | 120 Nm | 346 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1115 kg | 1885 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4380 mm | 5450 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 2020 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1510 mm | 1460 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2610 mm | 2950 mm |
