1961 Fiat 500 vs. 1988 Lincoln Mark VII
To start off, 1988 Lincoln Mark VII is newer by 27 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1961 Fiat 500. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1961 Fiat 500 would be higher. At 4,941 cc (8 cylinders), 1988 Lincoln Mark VII is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Lincoln Mark VII (223 HP @ 4200 RPM) has 201 more horse power than 1961 Fiat 500. (22 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1988 Lincoln Mark VII should accelerate faster than 1961 Fiat 500. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 Lincoln Mark VII weights approximately 1170 kg more than 1961 Fiat 500. 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 Lincoln Mark VII (407 Nm @ 3200 RPM) has 371 more torque (in Nm) than 1961 Fiat 500. (36 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 1988 Lincoln Mark VII will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1961 Fiat 500. 1988 Lincoln Mark VII has automatic transmission and 1961 Fiat 500 has manual transmission. 1961 Fiat 500 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1988 Lincoln Mark VII will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1961 Fiat 500 | 1988 Lincoln Mark VII | |
| Make | Fiat | Lincoln |
| Model | 500 | Mark VII |
| Year Released | 1961 | 1988 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 499 cc | 4941 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 2 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 22 HP | 223 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Torque | 36 Nm | 407 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 3200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 67.4 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 70 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 540 kg | 1710 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3190 mm | 5160 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1330 mm | 1810 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1360 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 1950 mm | 2760 mm |
