1972 Ford Cortina vs. 1980 Lancia Beta
To start off, 1980 Lancia Beta is newer by 8 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 1,993 cc (4 cylinders), 1980 Lancia Beta is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Lancia Beta (118 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 62 more horse power than 1972 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Lancia Beta should accelerate faster than 1972 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Lancia Beta weights approximately 16 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, 1980 Lancia Beta (165 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 74 more torque (in Nm) than 1972 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1980 Lancia Beta will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1972 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1972 Ford Cortina | 1980 Lancia Beta | |
| Make | Ford | Lancia |
| Model | Cortina | Beta |
| Year Released | 1972 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1298 cc | 1993 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 56 HP | 118 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 165 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 84 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 63 mm | 90 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 8.9:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1044 kg | 1060 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4280 mm | 3820 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2360 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 87 L | 59 L |
