1972 Ford Cortina vs. 1968 Ford Escort
To start off, 1972 Ford Cortina is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1968 Ford Escort. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1968 Ford Escort would be higher. At 1,558 cc (4 cylinders), 1968 Ford Escort is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1968 Ford Escort (108 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 52 more horse power than 1972 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1968 Ford Escort should accelerate faster than 1972 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1972 Ford Cortina weights approximately 183 kg more than 1968 Ford Escort.
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, 1968 Ford Escort (144 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 53 more torque (in Nm) than 1972 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1968 Ford Escort will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1972 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1972 Ford Cortina | 1968 Ford Escort | |
| Make | Ford | Ford |
| Model | Cortina | Escort |
| Year Released | 1972 | 1968 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1298 cc | 1558 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 56 HP | 108 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 144 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 82.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 63 mm | 72.8 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 945 kg | 762 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 3980 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1580 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2570 mm | 2410 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 55 L | 87 L |
