1978 Fiat 131 vs. 1956 Ford Consul
To start off, 1978 Fiat 131 is newer by 22 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1956 Ford Consul. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1956 Ford Consul would be higher. At 2,444 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Fiat 131 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Fiat 131 (75 HP @ 4200 RPM) has 28 more horse power than 1956 Ford Consul. (47 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Fiat 131 should accelerate faster than 1956 Ford Consul. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Fiat 131 weights approximately 101 kg more than 1956 Ford Consul. 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 Fiat 131 (144 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 20 more torque (in Nm) than 1956 Ford Consul. (124 Nm @ 2300 RPM). This means 1978 Fiat 131 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1956 Ford Consul.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Fiat 131 | 1956 Ford Consul | |
| Make | Fiat | Ford |
| Model | 131 | Consul |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1956 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2444 cc | 1703 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 75 HP | 47 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4200 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 144 Nm | 124 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 2300 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 93 mm | 82.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 90 mm | 79.5 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 22.0:1 | 7.8:1 |
| Fuel Type | Diesel | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1190 kg | 1089 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1660 mm | 1750 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1570 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2500 mm | 2660 mm |
