1971 Ford Cortina vs. 1979 Triumph Spitfire
To start off, 1979 Triumph Spitfire is newer by 8 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 1,491 cc (4 cylinders), 1979 Triumph Spitfire is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Triumph Spitfire (57 HP) has 1 more horse power than 1971 Ford Cortina. (56 HP) In normal driving conditions, 1979 Triumph Spitfire should accelerate faster than 1971 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Ford Cortina weights approximately 158 kg more than 1979 Triumph Spitfire.
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, 1979 Triumph Spitfire (99 Nm) has 8 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm). This means 1979 Triumph Spitfire will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Ford Cortina | 1979 Triumph Spitfire | |
| Make | Ford | Triumph |
| Model | Cortina | Spitfire |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1298 cc | 1491 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 56 HP | 57 HP |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 99 Nm |
| 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 | 787 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 3790 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1490 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1210 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2570 mm | 2110 mm |
