1997 Bentley Continental vs. 1980 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1997 Bentley Continental is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 6,750 cc (8 cylinders), 1997 Bentley Continental is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 Bentley Continental (421 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 362 more horse power than 1980 Ford Cortina. (59 HP @ 5750 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1997 Bentley Continental should accelerate faster than 1980 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1997 Bentley Continental weights approximately 1448 kg more than 1980 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, 1997 Bentley Continental (875 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 783 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Ford Cortina. (92 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1997 Bentley Continental will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Ford Cortina. 1997 Bentley Continental has automatic transmission and 1980 Ford Cortina has manual transmission. 1980 Ford Cortina will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1997 Bentley Continental will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1997 Bentley Continental | 1980 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Bentley | Ford |
| Model | Continental | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1997 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 6750 cc | 1294 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 421 HP | 59 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5750 RPM |
| Torque | 875 Nm | 92 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 104.2 mm | 81 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 99.1 mm | 63 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 9.2:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Premium | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2450 kg | 1002 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5250 mm | 4350 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2060 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3120 mm | 2590 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 100 L | 54 L |
