1971 Ford Cortina vs. 1959 Jaguar XK
To start off, 1971 Ford Cortina is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Jaguar XK. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Jaguar XK would be higher. At 3,781 cc (6 cylinders), 1959 Jaguar XK is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1959 Jaguar XK (265 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 209 more horse power than 1971 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1959 Jaguar XK should accelerate faster than 1971 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1959 Jaguar XK weights approximately 528 kg more than 1971 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, 1959 Jaguar XK (353 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 262 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1959 Jaguar XK will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Ford Cortina | 1959 Jaguar XK | |
| Make | Ford | Jaguar |
| Model | Cortina | XK |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1959 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1298 cc | 3781 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 56 HP | 265 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 353 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 8.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 945 kg | 1473 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 4500 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1640 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2570 mm | 2600 mm |
