1973 Ford Cortina vs. 1963 Opel Rekord
To start off, 1973 Ford Cortina is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1963 Opel Rekord. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1963 Opel Rekord would be higher. At 1,487 cc (4 cylinders), 1963 Opel Rekord is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1973 Ford Cortina (56 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 3 more horse power than 1963 Opel Rekord. (53 HP @ 4500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1973 Ford Cortina should accelerate faster than 1963 Opel Rekord. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Ford Cortina weights approximately 70 kg more than 1963 Opel Rekord. 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, 1963 Opel Rekord (108 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 17 more torque (in Nm) than 1973 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1963 Opel Rekord will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1973 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1973 Ford Cortina | 1963 Opel Rekord | |
| Make | Ford | Opel |
| Model | Cortina | Rekord |
| Year Released | 1973 | 1963 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1296 cc | 1487 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 56 HP | 53 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 108 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 80 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 63 mm | 74 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1040 kg | 970 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4280 mm | 4520 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1470 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2650 mm |
