1979 Fiat 126 vs. 1961 Ford Prefect
To start off, 1979 Fiat 126 is newer by 18 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1961 Ford Prefect. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1961 Ford Prefect would be higher. At 997 cc (4 cylinders), 1961 Ford Prefect is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1961 Ford Prefect (35 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 11 more horse power than 1979 Fiat 126. (24 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1961 Ford Prefect should accelerate faster than 1979 Fiat 126. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1961 Ford Prefect weights approximately 193 kg more than 1979 Fiat 126. 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, 1961 Ford Prefect (71 Nm @ 2700 RPM) has 29 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Fiat 126. (42 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1961 Ford Prefect will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Fiat 126.
Compare all specifications:
| 1979 Fiat 126 | 1961 Ford Prefect | |
| Make | Fiat | Ford |
| Model | 126 | Prefect |
| Year Released | 1979 | 1961 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 652 cc | 997 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 2 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 24 HP | 35 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 42 Nm | 71 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2700 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 585 kg | 778 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3130 mm | 3810 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1390 mm | 1550 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1340 mm | 1650 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 1850 mm | 2220 mm |
