1972 Ford Gran Torino vs. 1978 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1978 Ford Cortina is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1972 Ford Gran Torino. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1972 Ford Gran Torino would be higher. At 4,097 cc (6 cylinders), 1972 Ford Gran Torino is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1972 Ford Gran Torino (95 HP @ 3600 RPM) has 9 more horse power than 1978 Ford Cortina. (86 HP @ 5300 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1972 Ford Gran Torino should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1972 Ford Gran Torino weights approximately 748 kg more than 1978 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, 1972 Ford Gran Torino (245 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 104 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Cortina. (141 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1972 Ford Gran Torino will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Cortina. 1978 Ford Cortina has automatic transmission and 1972 Ford Gran Torino has manual transmission. 1972 Ford Gran Torino will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Ford Cortina will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1972 Ford Gran Torino | 1978 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Ford | Ford |
| Model | Gran Torino | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1972 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4097 cc | 1998 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 95 HP | 86 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3600 RPM | 5300 RPM |
| Torque | 245 Nm | 141 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1600 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1858 kg | 1110 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5470 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2010 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3000 mm | 2580 mm |
