1985 Caterham 1700 vs. 1976 Ford Taunus
To start off, 1985 Caterham 1700 is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 Ford Taunus. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 Ford Taunus would be higher. At 1,993 cc (6 cylinders), 1976 Ford Taunus is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1985 Caterham 1700 (135 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 46 more horse power than 1976 Ford Taunus. (89 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1985 Caterham 1700 should accelerate faster than 1976 Ford Taunus. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Ford Taunus weights approximately 572 kg more than 1985 Caterham 1700.
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, 1985 Caterham 1700 (165 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 16 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Ford Taunus. (149 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1985 Caterham 1700 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Ford Taunus.
Compare all specifications:
| 1985 Caterham 1700 | 1976 Ford Taunus | |
| Make | Caterham | Ford |
| Model | 1700 | Taunus |
| Year Released | 1985 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1692 cc | 1993 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 135 HP | 89 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 165 Nm | 149 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 543 kg | 1115 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3400 mm | 4450 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1720 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1090 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2240 mm | 2590 mm |
