1985 Pontiac Firebird vs. 1970 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1985 Pontiac Firebird is newer by 15 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 2,827 cc (6 cylinders), 1985 Pontiac Firebird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1985 Pontiac Firebird (133 HP @ 5100 RPM) has 38 more horse power than 1970 Ford Cortina. (95 HP @ 5700 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1985 Pontiac Firebird should accelerate faster than 1970 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1985 Pontiac Firebird weights approximately 261 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, 1985 Pontiac Firebird (223 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 75 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Ford Cortina. (148 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1985 Pontiac Firebird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Ford Cortina. 1970 Ford Cortina has automatic transmission and 1985 Pontiac Firebird has manual transmission. 1985 Pontiac Firebird will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1970 Ford Cortina will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1985 Pontiac Firebird | 1970 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Pontiac | Ford |
| Model | Firebird | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1985 | 1970 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2827 cc | 1993 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 133 HP | 95 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5100 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 223 Nm | 148 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3600 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.5:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1356 kg | 1095 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4850 mm | 4280 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1850 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1270 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2740 mm | 2590 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 60 L | 87 L |
