1968 Ford 17 vs. 1978 Reliant Kitten
To start off, 1978 Reliant Kitten is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1968 Ford 17. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1968 Ford 17 would be higher. At 1,498 cc (4 cylinders), 1968 Ford 17 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1968 Ford 17 (59 HP @ 4500 RPM) has 19 more horse power than 1978 Reliant Kitten. (40 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1968 Ford 17 should accelerate faster than 1978 Reliant Kitten. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1968 Ford 17 weights approximately 521 kg more than 1978 Reliant Kitten. 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, 1968 Ford 17 (112 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 49 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Reliant Kitten. (63 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1968 Ford 17 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Reliant Kitten.
Compare all specifications:
| 1968 Ford 17 | 1978 Reliant Kitten | |
| Make | Ford | Reliant |
| Model | 17 | Kitten |
| Year Released | 1968 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1498 cc | 846 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 59 HP | 40 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 112 Nm | 63 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82 mm | 62.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 70.9 mm | 69.1 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.3:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1056 kg | 535 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4460 mm | 3330 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1430 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2710 mm | 2150 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 55 L | 27 L |
