1978 Ford Crown Victoria vs. 1959 Ford 17M
To start off, 1978 Ford Crown Victoria is newer by 19 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Ford 17M. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Ford 17M would be higher. At 5,766 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Ford Crown Victoria is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Ford Crown Victoria (138 HP @ 3200 RPM) has 79 more horse power than 1959 Ford 17M. (59 HP @ 4250 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Ford Crown Victoria should accelerate faster than 1959 Ford 17M. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Ford Crown Victoria weights approximately 545 kg more than 1959 Ford 17M. 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 Ford Crown Victoria (353 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 233 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Ford 17M. (120 Nm @ 2200 RPM). This means 1978 Ford Crown Victoria will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Ford 17M. 1978 Ford Crown Victoria has automatic transmission and 1959 Ford 17M has manual transmission. 1959 Ford 17M will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Ford Crown Victoria will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Ford Crown Victoria | 1959 Ford 17M | |
| Make | Ford | Ford |
| Model | Crown Victoria | 17M |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1959 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5766 cc | 1697 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 59 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3200 RPM | 4250 RPM |
| Torque | 353 Nm | 120 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 2200 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1660 kg | 1115 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5320 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1980 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1510 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2610 mm |
