1971 Ford Escort vs. 1959 Ford Prefect
To start off, 1971 Ford Escort is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Ford Prefect. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Ford Prefect would be higher. At 1,098 cc (4 cylinders), 1971 Ford Escort is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, both vehicles can yield 38 horse power. So under normal driving conditions, the acceleration of both vehicles should be relatively similar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Ford Escort weights approximately 5 kg more than 1959 Ford Prefect.
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 Ford Prefect (72 Nm @ 2700 RPM) has 4 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Ford Escort. (68 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1959 Ford Prefect will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Ford Escort.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Ford Escort | 1959 Ford Prefect | |
| Make | Ford | Ford |
| Model | Escort | Prefect |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1959 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1098 cc | 996 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 38 HP | 38 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5300 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 68 Nm | 72 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2700 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 805 kg | 800 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3990 mm | 3810 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1550 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1360 mm | 1520 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2400 mm | 2220 mm |
