1981 Ford Mustang vs. 1973 Ford Escort
To start off, 1981 Ford Mustang is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Ford Escort. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Ford Escort would be higher. At 2,294 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Ford Mustang is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1973 Ford Escort (96 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 9 more horse power than 1981 Ford Mustang. (87 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1973 Ford Escort should accelerate faster than 1981 Ford Mustang. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Ford Mustang weights approximately 271 kg more than 1973 Ford Escort.
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 Mustang (161 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 13 more torque (in Nm) than 1973 Ford Escort. (148 Nm @ 3750 RPM). This means 1981 Ford Mustang will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1973 Ford Escort.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Ford Mustang | 1973 Ford Escort | |
| Make | Ford | Ford |
| Model | Mustang | Escort |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1973 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2294 cc | 1993 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 87 HP | 96 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 161 Nm | 148 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 3750 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 96.1 mm | 90.8 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 79.5 mm | 77 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1185 kg | 914 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4560 mm | 3980 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1720 mm | 1570 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1320 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2560 mm | 2410 mm |
