1973 Ford Cortina vs. 1980 Lancia Beta
To start off, 1980 Lancia Beta is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 1,585 cc (4 cylinders), 1980 Lancia Beta is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Lancia Beta (101 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 45 more horse power than 1973 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Lancia Beta should accelerate faster than 1973 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Ford Cortina weights approximately 4 kg more than 1980 Lancia Beta.
Because 1973 Ford Cortina is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1973 Ford Cortina. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1980 Lancia Beta, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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 (134 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 43 more torque (in Nm) than 1973 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 1973 Ford Cortina. 1980 Lancia Beta has automatic transmission and 1973 Ford Cortina has manual transmission. 1973 Ford Cortina will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1980 Lancia Beta will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1973 Ford Cortina | 1980 Lancia Beta | |
| Make | Ford | Lancia |
| Model | Cortina | Beta |
| Year Released | 1973 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1296 cc | 1585 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 56 HP | 101 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 134 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 84 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 63 mm | 71.5 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 3 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1040 kg | 1036 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4280 mm | 4290 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1660 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2550 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 87 L | 59 L |
