1987 Chevrolet Corvette vs. 1978 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1987 Chevrolet Corvette is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 5,735 cc (8 cylinders), 1987 Chevrolet Corvette is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1987 Chevrolet Corvette (245 HP @ 4400 RPM) has 159 more horse power than 1978 Ford Cortina. (86 HP @ 5300 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1987 Chevrolet Corvette should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1987 Chevrolet Corvette weights approximately 408 kg more than 1978 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, 1987 Chevrolet Corvette (467 Nm @ 3200 RPM) has 326 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Cortina. (141 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1987 Chevrolet Corvette will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Cortina. 1978 Ford Cortina has automatic transmission and 1987 Chevrolet Corvette has manual transmission. 1987 Chevrolet Corvette will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Ford Cortina will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1987 Chevrolet Corvette | 1978 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Chevrolet | Ford |
| Model | Corvette | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1987 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5735 cc | 1998 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 245 HP | 86 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 5300 RPM |
| Torque | 467 Nm | 141 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3200 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1518 kg | 1110 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4490 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1190 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2450 mm | 2580 mm |
