1974 Ford Cortina vs. 1976 Holden Sunbird
To start off, 1976 Holden Sunbird is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 1,897 cc (4 cylinders), 1976 Holden Sunbird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Holden Sunbird (101 HP @ 5400 RPM) has 45 more horse power than 1974 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1976 Holden Sunbird should accelerate faster than 1974 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Holden Sunbird weights approximately 80 kg more than 1974 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, 1976 Holden Sunbird (156 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 65 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1976 Holden Sunbird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Ford Cortina. 1976 Holden Sunbird has automatic transmission and 1974 Ford Cortina has manual transmission. 1974 Ford Cortina will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1976 Holden Sunbird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1974 Ford Cortina | 1976 Holden Sunbird | |
| Make | Ford | Holden |
| Model | Cortina | Sunbird |
| Year Released | 1974 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1298 cc | 1897 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 56 HP | 101 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5400 RPM |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 156 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1040 kg | 1120 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4280 mm | 4500 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2590 mm |
