1973 Ford Fairlane vs. 1981 Nissan Skyline
To start off, 1981 Nissan Skyline is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Ford Fairlane. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Ford Fairlane would be higher. At 4,097 cc (6 cylinders), 1973 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1973 Ford Fairlane (150 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 57 more horse power than 1981 Nissan Skyline. (93 HP @ 5600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1973 Ford Fairlane should accelerate faster than 1981 Nissan Skyline. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Ford Fairlane weights approximately 400 kg more than 1981 Nissan Skyline. 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, 1973 Ford Fairlane (339 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 190 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Nissan Skyline. (149 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 1973 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Nissan Skyline.
Compare all specifications:
| 1973 Ford Fairlane | 1981 Nissan Skyline | |
| Make | Ford | Nissan |
| Model | Fairlane | Skyline |
| Year Released | 1973 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4097 cc | 1809 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 150 HP | 93 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 339 Nm | 149 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1600 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 1450 kg | 1050 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5060 mm | 4630 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1910 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1410 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2950 mm | 2620 mm |
