1970 Ford Cortina vs. 1997 Pontiac Firebird
To start off, 1997 Pontiac Firebird is newer by 27 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 3,353 cc (6 cylinders), 1997 Pontiac Firebird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 Pontiac Firebird (146 HP @ 4600 RPM) has 51 more horse power than 1970 Ford Cortina. (95 HP @ 5700 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1997 Pontiac Firebird should accelerate faster than 1970 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1997 Pontiac Firebird weights approximately 433 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.
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, 1997 Pontiac Firebird (257 Nm @ 3150 RPM) has 109 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Ford Cortina. (148 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1997 Pontiac Firebird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1970 Ford Cortina | 1997 Pontiac Firebird | |
| Make | Ford | Pontiac |
| Model | Cortina | Firebird |
| Year Released | 1970 | 1997 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1993 cc | 3353 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 95 HP | 146 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 4600 RPM |
| Torque | 148 Nm | 257 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 3150 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1095 kg | 1528 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4280 mm | 4920 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1900 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1320 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2570 mm |
