1959 Ford Consul vs. 1965 Pontiac Catalina
To start off, 1965 Pontiac Catalina is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Ford Consul. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Ford Consul would be higher. At 6,891 cc (8 cylinders), 1965 Pontiac Catalina is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1965 Pontiac Catalina (376 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 329 more horse power than 1959 Ford Consul. (47 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1965 Pontiac Catalina should accelerate faster than 1959 Ford Consul. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1965 Pontiac Catalina weights approximately 796 kg more than 1959 Ford Consul. 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, 1965 Pontiac Catalina (625 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 501 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Ford Consul. (124 Nm @ 2300 RPM). This means 1965 Pontiac Catalina will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Ford Consul. 1965 Pontiac Catalina has automatic transmission and 1959 Ford Consul has manual transmission. 1959 Ford Consul will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1965 Pontiac Catalina will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Ford Consul | 1965 Pontiac Catalina | |
| Make | Ford | Pontiac |
| Model | Consul | Catalina |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1965 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1702 cc | 6891 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 47 HP | 376 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 124 Nm | 625 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2300 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82.6 mm | 103.9 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 79.5 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1089 kg | 1885 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4380 mm | 5450 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1750 mm | 2030 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1570 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2660 mm | 3080 mm |
