1971 Ford Cortina vs. 1977 Lancia Beta
To start off, 1977 Lancia Beta is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 1,298 cc (4 cylinders), 1971 Ford Cortina is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1977 Lancia Beta (82 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 26 more horse power than 1971 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1977 Lancia Beta should accelerate faster than 1971 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1977 Lancia Beta weights approximately 80 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.
Because 1971 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 1971 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 (108 Nm @ 3300 RPM) has 17 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1977 Lancia Beta will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Ford Cortina | 1977 Lancia Beta | |
| Make | Ford | Lancia |
| Model | Cortina | Beta |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1977 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1298 cc | 1297 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 56 HP | 82 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 108 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 3300 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 8.9:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 945 kg | 1025 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 4000 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1660 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1290 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2570 mm | 2480 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 55 L | 49 L |
