1978 Fiat 131 vs. 1958 Ford 17
To start off, 1978 Fiat 131 is newer by 20 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1958 Ford 17. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1958 Ford 17 would be higher. At 1,995 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Fiat 131 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, both vehicles can yield 59 horse power. So under normal driving conditions, the acceleration of both vehicles should be relatively similar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Fiat 131 weights approximately 65 kg more than 1958 Ford 17.
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, 1958 Ford 17 (129 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 16 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Fiat 131. (113 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1958 Ford 17 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Fiat 131.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Fiat 131 | 1958 Ford 17 | |
| Make | Fiat | Ford |
| Model | 131 | 17 |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1958 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1995 cc | 1698 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 59 HP | 59 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 4250 RPM |
| Torque | 113 Nm | 129 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 88 mm | 84 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 82 mm | 76.6 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 22.0:1 | 7.1:1 |
| Fuel Type | Diesel | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1180 kg | 1115 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1660 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1520 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2500 mm | 2610 mm |
