1982 Ford Thunderbird vs. 1970 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1982 Ford Thunderbird is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 3,275 cc (6 cylinders), 1982 Ford Thunderbird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1982 Ford Thunderbird (87 HP @ 3800 RPM) has 31 more horse power than 1970 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1982 Ford Thunderbird should accelerate faster than 1970 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1982 Ford Thunderbird weights approximately 396 kg more than 1970 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, 1982 Ford Thunderbird (209 Nm @ 1400 RPM) has 117 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Ford Cortina. (92 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1982 Ford Thunderbird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Ford Cortina. 1982 Ford Thunderbird has automatic transmission and 1970 Ford Cortina has manual transmission. 1970 Ford Cortina will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1982 Ford Thunderbird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1982 Ford Thunderbird | 1970 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Ford | Ford |
| Model | Thunderbird | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1982 | 1970 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3275 cc | 1298 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 87 HP | 56 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 209 Nm | 92 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1400 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1436 kg | 1040 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5100 mm | 4280 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1890 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2760 mm | 2590 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 80 L | 87 L |
