1981 Ford Fairlane vs. 1961 Hudson Metropolitan
To start off, 1981 Ford Fairlane is newer by 20 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1961 Hudson Metropolitan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1961 Hudson Metropolitan would be higher. At 4,092 cc (6 cylinders), 1981 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Ford Fairlane (124 HP @ 3600 RPM) has 77 more horse power than 1961 Hudson Metropolitan. (47 HP @ 4100 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1981 Ford Fairlane should accelerate faster than 1961 Hudson Metropolitan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Ford Fairlane weights approximately 581 kg more than 1961 Hudson Metropolitan. 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, 1981 Ford Fairlane (296 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 195 more torque (in Nm) than 1961 Hudson Metropolitan. (101 Nm @ 2100 RPM). This means 1981 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1961 Hudson Metropolitan. 1981 Ford Fairlane has automatic transmission and 1961 Hudson Metropolitan has manual transmission. 1961 Hudson Metropolitan will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Ford Fairlane will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Ford Fairlane | 1961 Hudson Metropolitan | |
| Make | Ford | Hudson |
| Model | Fairlane | Metropolitan |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1961 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4092 cc | 1489 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 124 HP | 47 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3600 RPM | 4100 RPM |
| Torque | 296 Nm | 101 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1800 RPM | 2100 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1400 kg | 819 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5020 mm | 3800 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1570 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1450 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2950 mm | 2170 mm |
