1972 Ford Cortina vs. 1978 Opel Rekord
To start off, 1978 Opel Rekord 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 1,978 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Opel Rekord is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Opel Rekord (100 HP) has 44 more horse power than 1972 Ford Cortina. (56 HP) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Opel Rekord should accelerate faster than 1972 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Opel Rekord weights approximately 76 kg more than 1972 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, 1978 Opel Rekord (148 Nm @ 3800 RPM) has 57 more torque (in Nm) than 1972 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1978 Opel Rekord will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1972 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1972 Ford Cortina | 1978 Opel Rekord | |
| Make | Ford | Opel |
| Model | Cortina | Rekord |
| Year Released | 1972 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1298 cc | 1978 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 56 HP | 100 HP |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 148 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 95 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 63 mm | 69.8 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1044 kg | 1120 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4280 mm | 4600 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1430 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2670 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 87 L | 65 L |
