1959 Ford Prefect vs. 1978 Mitsubishi Debonair
To start off, 1978 Mitsubishi Debonair is newer by 19 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Ford Prefect. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Ford Prefect would be higher. At 2,555 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Mitsubishi Debonair is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Mitsubishi Debonair (111 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 80 more horse power than 1959 Ford Prefect. (31 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Mitsubishi Debonair should accelerate faster than 1959 Ford Prefect. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mitsubishi Debonair weights approximately 625 kg more than 1959 Ford Prefect. 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, 1978 Mitsubishi Debonair (206 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 135 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Ford Prefect. (71 Nm @ 2150 RPM). This means 1978 Mitsubishi Debonair will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Ford Prefect. 1978 Mitsubishi Debonair has automatic transmission and 1959 Ford Prefect has manual transmission. 1959 Ford Prefect will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Mitsubishi Debonair will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Ford Prefect | 1978 Mitsubishi Debonair | |
| Make | Ford | Mitsubishi |
| Model | Prefect | Debonair |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1172 cc | 2555 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 31 HP | 111 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 71 Nm | 206 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2150 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 765 kg | 1390 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3850 mm | 4680 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1550 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1500 mm | 1480 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2220 mm | 2700 mm |
