1970 Ford Cortina vs. 1977 Lancia Beta
To start off, 1977 Lancia Beta is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 1,599 cc (4 cylinders), 1970 Ford Cortina is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1977 Lancia Beta (100 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 32 more horse power than 1970 Ford Cortina. (68 HP @ 5200 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1977 Lancia Beta should accelerate faster than 1970 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1977 Lancia Beta weights approximately 76 kg more than 1970 Ford Cortina. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1970 Ford Cortina is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1970 Ford Cortina. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1977 Lancia Beta, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 1977 Lancia Beta (134 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 19 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Ford Cortina. (115 Nm @ 2600 RPM). This means 1977 Lancia Beta will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Ford Cortina. 1977 Lancia Beta has automatic transmission and 1970 Ford Cortina has manual transmission. 1970 Ford Cortina will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1977 Lancia Beta will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1970 Ford Cortina | 1977 Lancia Beta | |
| Make | Ford | Lancia |
| Model | Cortina | Beta |
| Year Released | 1970 | 1977 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1599 cc | 1585 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 68 HP | 100 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5200 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 115 Nm | 134 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2600 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 84 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 77.6 mm | 71.5 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Top Speed | 148 km/hour | 174 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 3 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 960 kg | 1036 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 4290 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1660 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2570 mm | 2480 mm |
