1971 Ford Cortina vs. 1981 Nissan Skyline
To start off, 1981 Nissan Skyline is newer by 10 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 1,951 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Nissan Skyline is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Nissan Skyline (111 HP @ 5600 RPM) has 55 more horse power than 1971 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Nissan Skyline should accelerate faster than 1971 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Nissan Skyline weights approximately 45 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, 1981 Nissan Skyline (167 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 76 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1981 Nissan Skyline will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Ford Cortina | 1981 Nissan Skyline | |
| Make | Ford | Nissan |
| Model | Cortina | Skyline |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1298 cc | 1951 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 56 HP | 111 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 167 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1040 kg | 1085 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4280 mm | 4630 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2620 mm |
