1981 Ford Cortina vs. 1976 Nissan Skyline
To start off, 1981 Ford Cortina is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 Nissan Skyline. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 Nissan Skyline would be higher. At 1,593 cc (4 cylinders), 1976 Nissan Skyline is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Nissan Skyline (85 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 26 more horse power than 1981 Ford Cortina. (59 HP @ 5750 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1976 Nissan Skyline should accelerate faster than 1981 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Ford Cortina weights approximately 20 kg more than 1976 Nissan Skyline.
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, 1976 Nissan Skyline (138 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 46 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Ford Cortina. (92 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1976 Nissan Skyline will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Ford Cortina | 1976 Nissan Skyline | |
| Make | Ford | Nissan |
| Model | Cortina | Skyline |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1293 cc | 1593 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 59 HP | 85 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5750 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 92 Nm | 138 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 1000 kg | 980 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4350 mm | 4260 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1630 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2520 mm |
