1970 Ford Escort vs. 1997 Toyota Corolla

To start off, 1997 Toyota Corolla is newer by 27 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Ford Escort. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Ford Escort would be higher. At 1,995 cc (4 cylinders), 1997 Toyota Corolla is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 Toyota Corolla (71 HP @ 4600 RPM) has 33 more horse power than 1970 Ford Escort. (38 HP @ 5300 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1997 Toyota Corolla should accelerate faster than 1970 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1997 Toyota Corolla weights approximately 455 kg more than 1970 Ford Escort. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.

Because 1970 Ford Escort 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 Escort. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1997 Toyota Corolla, 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, 1997 Toyota Corolla (135 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 67 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Ford Escort. (68 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1997 Toyota Corolla will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Ford Escort.

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