1966 AC Cobra vs. 1963 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1966 AC Cobra is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1963 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1963 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 6,997 cc (8 cylinders), 1966 AC Cobra is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1966 AC Cobra (410 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 304 more horse power than 1963 Ford Cortina. (106 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1966 AC Cobra should accelerate faster than 1963 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1966 AC Cobra weights approximately 307 kg more than 1963 Ford Cortina. 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, 1966 AC Cobra (651 Nm @ 3700 RPM) has 502 more torque (in Nm) than 1963 Ford Cortina. (149 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1966 AC Cobra will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1963 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1966 AC Cobra | 1963 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | AC | Ford |
| Model | Cobra | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1966 | 1963 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 6997 cc | 1558 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 410 HP | 106 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 651 Nm | 149 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3700 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 107.7 mm | 82.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 96 mm | 72.8 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 11.5:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1147 kg | 840 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3970 mm | 4280 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1590 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1250 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2290 mm | 2500 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 68 L | 45 L |
