1978 Fiat 131 vs. 1976 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1978 Fiat 131 is newer by 2 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 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 2 more horse power than 1976 Ford Cortina. (73 HP @ 5300 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Fiat 131 should accelerate faster than 1976 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Fiat 131 weights approximately 76 kg more than 1976 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 Fiat 131 (144 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 27 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Ford Cortina. (117 Nm @ 2700 RPM). This means 1978 Fiat 131 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Fiat 131 | 1976 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Fiat | Ford |
| Model | 131 | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2444 cc | 1593 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 75 HP | 73 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4200 RPM | 5300 RPM |
| Torque | 144 Nm | 117 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 2700 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 22.0:1 | 9.2:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1190 kg | 1114 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 4450 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1660 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2500 mm | 2590 mm |
