1979 Citroen Mehari vs. 1977 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1979 Citroen Mehari is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1977 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1977 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 2,294 cc (6 cylinders), 1977 Ford Cortina is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1977 Ford Cortina (108 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 79 more horse power than 1979 Citroen Mehari. (29 HP @ 5750 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1977 Ford Cortina should accelerate faster than 1979 Citroen Mehari. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1977 Ford Cortina weights approximately 573 kg more than 1979 Citroen Mehari. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1977 Ford Cortina is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1977 Ford Cortina. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1979 Citroen Mehari, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 1977 Ford Cortina (176 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 137 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Citroen Mehari. (39 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1977 Ford Cortina will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Citroen Mehari.
Compare all specifications:
| 1979 Citroen Mehari | 1977 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Citroen | Ford |
| Model | Mehari | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1979 | 1977 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 601 cc | 2294 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 2 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 29 HP | 108 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5750 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 39 Nm | 176 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 555 kg | 1128 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3530 mm | 4390 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1540 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1640 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2410 mm | 2590 mm |
