1981 Ford Cortina vs. 1988 Ford Thunderbird
To start off, 1988 Ford Thunderbird is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 3,797 cc (6 cylinders), 1988 Ford Thunderbird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Ford Thunderbird (210 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 151 more horse power than 1981 Ford Cortina. (59 HP @ 5750 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1988 Ford Thunderbird should accelerate faster than 1981 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 Ford Thunderbird weights approximately 710 kg more than 1981 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, 1988 Ford Thunderbird (427 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 335 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Ford Cortina. (92 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1988 Ford Thunderbird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
1981 Ford Cortina | 1988 Ford Thunderbird | |
Make | Ford | Ford |
Model | Cortina | Thunderbird |
Year Released | 1981 | 1988 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1293 cc | 3797 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | V |
Horse Power | 59 HP | 210 HP |
Engine RPM | 5750 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Torque | 92 Nm | 427 Nm |
Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 2600 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 96.8 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 63 mm | 86 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 9.2:1 | 8.2:1 |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1000 kg | 1710 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4350 mm | 5050 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1850 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1350 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2880 mm |