1976 Ford Cortina vs. 1981 Nissan Leopard
To start off, 1981 Nissan Leopard is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 1,768 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Nissan Leopard is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Nissan Leopard (97 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 24 more horse power than 1976 Ford Cortina. (73 HP @ 5300 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Nissan Leopard should accelerate faster than 1976 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Ford Cortina weights approximately 9 kg more than 1981 Nissan Leopard.
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, 1981 Nissan Leopard (147 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 30 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Ford Cortina. (117 Nm @ 2700 RPM). This means 1981 Nissan Leopard will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Ford Cortina | 1981 Nissan Leopard | |
| Make | Ford | Nissan |
| Model | Cortina | Leopard |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1593 cc | 1768 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 73 HP | 97 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5300 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 117 Nm | 147 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2700 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1114 kg | 1105 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4450 mm | 4640 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2630 mm |
