1978 Fiat 131 vs. 1970 Ford 17
To start off, 1978 Fiat 131 is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Ford 17. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Ford 17 would be higher. At 1,498 cc (4 cylinders), 1970 Ford 17 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1970 Ford 17 (59 HP) has 6 more horse power than 1978 Fiat 131. (53 HP) In normal driving conditions, 1970 Ford 17 should accelerate faster than 1978 Fiat 131. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1970 Ford 17 weights approximately 110 kg more than 1978 Fiat 131. 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, 1970 Ford 17 (112 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 17 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Fiat 131. (95 Nm @ 2700 RPM). This means 1970 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 | 1970 Ford 17 | |
| Make | Fiat | Ford |
| Model | 131 | 17 |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1970 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1297 cc | 1498 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 53 HP | 59 HP |
| Torque | 95 Nm | 112 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2700 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 965 kg | 1075 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 4730 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1660 mm | 1760 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1450 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2500 mm | 2710 mm |
