1964 Fiat 500 vs. 1958 Ford 17
To start off, 1964 Fiat 500 is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1958 Ford 17. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1958 Ford 17 would be higher. At 1,698 cc (4 cylinders), 1958 Ford 17 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1958 Ford 17 (59 HP @ 4250 RPM) has 37 more horse power than 1964 Fiat 500. (22 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1958 Ford 17 should accelerate faster than 1964 Fiat 500. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1958 Ford 17 weights approximately 569 kg more than 1964 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, 1958 Ford 17 (129 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 93 more torque (in Nm) than 1964 Fiat 500. (36 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 1958 Ford 17 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1964 Fiat 500.
Compare all specifications:
| 1964 Fiat 500 | 1958 Ford 17 | |
| Make | Fiat | Ford |
| Model | 500 | 17 |
| Year Released | 1964 | 1958 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 499 cc | 1698 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 2 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 22 HP | 59 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 4250 RPM |
| Torque | 36 Nm | 129 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.3:1 | 7.1:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 546 kg | 1115 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3190 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1330 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1360 mm | 1520 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 1950 mm | 2610 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 38 L | 55 L |
