1976 Fiat 131 vs. 1959 Ford Prefect
To start off, 1976 Fiat 131 is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Ford Prefect. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Ford Prefect would be higher. At 1,993 cc (4 cylinders), 1976 Fiat 131 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Fiat 131 (138 HP @ 6400 RPM) has 100 more horse power than 1959 Ford Prefect. (38 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1976 Fiat 131 should accelerate faster than 1959 Ford Prefect. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Fiat 131 weights approximately 240 kg more than 1959 Ford Prefect. 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 Fiat 131 (177 Nm @ 3800 RPM) has 105 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Ford Prefect. (72 Nm @ 2700 RPM). This means 1976 Fiat 131 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Ford Prefect.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Fiat 131 | 1959 Ford Prefect | |
| Make | Fiat | Ford |
| Model | 131 | Prefect |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1959 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1993 cc | 996 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 38 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6400 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 177 Nm | 72 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3800 RPM | 2700 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.0:1 | 8.9:1 |
| Top Speed | 190 km/hour | 117 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1040 kg | 800 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4200 mm | 3810 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1550 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1520 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2430 mm | 2220 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 50 L | 54 L |
