1972 Ford Cortina vs. 1978 Lancia Stratos
To start off, 1978 Lancia Stratos is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1972 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1972 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 2,419 cc (6 cylinders), 1978 Lancia Stratos is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Lancia Stratos (187 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 131 more horse power than 1972 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Lancia Stratos should accelerate faster than 1972 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1972 Ford Cortina weights approximately 64 kg more than 1978 Lancia Stratos.
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, 1978 Lancia Stratos (225 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 134 more torque (in Nm) than 1972 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1978 Lancia Stratos will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1972 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1972 Ford Cortina | 1978 Lancia Stratos | |
| Make | Ford | Lancia |
| Model | Cortina | Stratos |
| Year Released | 1972 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1298 cc | 2419 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 56 HP | 187 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 7000 RPM |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 225 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1044 kg | 980 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4280 mm | 3710 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1760 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2190 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 87 L | 80 L |
