1973 Ford Cortina vs. 2006 Smart ForTwo
To start off, 2006 Smart ForTwo is newer by 33 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 1,298 cc (4 cylinders), 1973 Ford Cortina is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2006 Smart ForTwo (60 HP @ 5250 RPM) has 4 more horse power than 1973 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2006 Smart ForTwo should accelerate faster than 1973 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Ford Cortina weights approximately 60 kg more than 2006 Smart ForTwo.
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, 2006 Smart ForTwo (95 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 4 more torque (in Nm) than 1973 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 2006 Smart ForTwo will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1973 Ford Cortina. 2006 Smart ForTwo 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. 2006 Smart ForTwo will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1973 Ford Cortina | 2006 Smart ForTwo | |
| Make | Ford | Smart |
| Model | Cortina | ForTwo |
| Year Released | 1973 | 2006 |
| Engine Position | Front | Rear |
| Engine Size | 1298 cc | 698 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 3 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 56 HP | 60 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5250 RPM |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 95 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 945 kg | 885 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 3760 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1520 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1460 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2570 mm | 1820 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 55 L | 33 L |
