1959 Ford Prefect vs. 1979 Ford Fairlane
To start off, 1979 Ford Fairlane is newer by 20 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 4,940 cc (8 cylinders), 1979 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Ford Fairlane (185 HP @ 4500 RPM) has 147 more horse power than 1959 Ford Prefect. (38 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1979 Ford Fairlane should accelerate faster than 1959 Ford Prefect. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Ford Fairlane weights approximately 630 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, 1979 Ford Fairlane (344 Nm @ 3200 RPM) has 272 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Ford Prefect. (72 Nm @ 2700 RPM). This means 1979 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Ford Prefect. 1979 Ford Fairlane 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. 1979 Ford Fairlane will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Ford Prefect | 1979 Ford Fairlane | |
| Make | Ford | Ford |
| Model | Prefect | Fairlane |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 996 cc | 4940 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 38 HP | 185 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Torque | 72 Nm | 344 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2700 RPM | 3200 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 800 kg | 1430 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3810 mm | 5020 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1550 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1520 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2220 mm | 2950 mm |
