1972 Alfa Romeo Spider vs. 1981 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1981 Ford Cortina is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1972 Alfa Romeo Spider. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1972 Alfa Romeo Spider would be higher. At 1,293 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Ford Cortina is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1972 Alfa Romeo Spider (89 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 30 more horse power than 1981 Ford Cortina. (59 HP @ 5750 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1972 Alfa Romeo Spider should accelerate faster than 1981 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Ford Cortina weights approximately 20 kg more than 1972 Alfa Romeo Spider.
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, 1972 Alfa Romeo Spider (121 Nm) has 29 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Ford Cortina. (92 Nm). This means 1972 Alfa Romeo Spider will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1972 Alfa Romeo Spider | 1981 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Alfa Romeo | Ford |
| Model | Spider | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1972 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1289 cc | 1293 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 89 HP | 59 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5750 RPM |
| Torque | 121 Nm | 92 Nm |
| Engine Bore Size | 80.1 mm | 81 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 67.5 mm | 63 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 980 kg | 1000 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4130 mm | 4350 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1640 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1300 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2260 mm | 2590 mm |
