1978 AMC Pacer vs. 1972 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1978 AMC Pacer is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1972 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1972 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 4,228 cc (6 cylinders), 1978 AMC Pacer is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 AMC Pacer (110 HP @ 3500 RPM) has 54 more horse power than 1972 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 AMC Pacer should accelerate faster than 1972 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 AMC Pacer weights approximately 324 kg more than 1972 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, 1978 AMC Pacer (265 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 174 more torque (in Nm) than 1972 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1978 AMC Pacer will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1972 Ford Cortina. 1978 AMC Pacer has automatic transmission and 1972 Ford Cortina has manual transmission. 1972 Ford Cortina will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 AMC Pacer will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 AMC Pacer | 1972 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | AMC | Ford |
| Model | Pacer | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1972 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4228 cc | 1298 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 110 HP | 56 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3500 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 265 Nm | 91 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 95.2 mm | 81 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 99 mm | 63 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 3 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1368 kg | 1044 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4360 mm | 4280 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1960 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2550 mm | 2590 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 83 L | 87 L |
