1963 Honda S500 vs. 1971 Ford Escort
To start off, 1971 Ford Escort is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1963 Honda S500. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1963 Honda S500 would be higher. At 1,098 cc (4 cylinders), 1971 Ford Escort is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1963 Honda S500 (43 HP @ 8000 RPM) has 5 more horse power than 1971 Ford Escort. (38 HP @ 5300 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1963 Honda S500 should accelerate faster than 1971 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Ford Escort weights approximately 79 kg more than 1963 Honda S500.
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, 1971 Ford Escort (68 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 23 more torque (in Nm) than 1963 Honda S500. (45 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1971 Ford Escort will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1963 Honda S500. 1971 Ford Escort has automatic transmission and 1963 Honda S500 has manual transmission. 1963 Honda S500 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1971 Ford Escort will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1963 Honda S500 | 1971 Ford Escort | |
| Make | Honda | Ford |
| Model | S500 | Escort |
| Year Released | 1963 | 1971 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 531 cc | 1098 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 43 HP | 38 HP |
| Engine RPM | 8000 RPM | 5300 RPM |
| Torque | 45 Nm | 68 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 726 kg | 805 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3310 mm | 3990 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1440 mm | 1580 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1210 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2010 mm | 2400 mm |
