1968 Ford 12 M vs. 1979 Volvo 343
To start off, 1979 Volvo 343 is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1968 Ford 12 M. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1968 Ford 12 M would be higher. At 1,397 cc (4 cylinders), 1979 Volvo 343 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Volvo 343 (70 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 26 more horse power than 1968 Ford 12 M. (44 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1979 Volvo 343 should accelerate faster than 1968 Ford 12 M. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Volvo 343 weights approximately 140 kg more than 1968 Ford 12 M. 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 Volvo 343 (108 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 28 more torque (in Nm) than 1968 Ford 12 M. (80 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1979 Volvo 343 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1968 Ford 12 M.
Compare all specifications:
| 1968 Ford 12 M | 1979 Volvo 343 | |
| Make | Ford | Volvo |
| Model | 12 M | 343 |
| Year Released | 1968 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1182 cc | 1397 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 44 HP | 70 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 80 Nm | 108 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 850 kg | 990 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4320 mm | 4210 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1610 mm | 1670 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1410 mm | 1400 mm |
