1985 Caterham 1700 vs. 1981 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1985 Caterham 1700 is newer by 4 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 1,692 cc (4 cylinders), 1985 Caterham 1700 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1985 Caterham 1700 (135 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 76 more horse power than 1981 Ford Cortina. (59 HP @ 5750 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1985 Caterham 1700 should accelerate faster than 1981 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Ford Cortina weights approximately 457 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 73 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Ford Cortina. (92 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1985 Caterham 1700 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1985 Caterham 1700 | 1981 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Caterham | Ford |
| Model | 1700 | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1985 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1692 cc | 1293 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 135 HP | 59 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5750 RPM |
| Torque | 165 Nm | 92 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 83.3 mm | 81 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 77.6 mm | 63 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 9.2:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 543 kg | 1000 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3400 mm | 4350 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1090 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2240 mm | 2590 mm |
