1997 Caterham C21 vs. 1955 Ford Prefect
To start off, 1997 Caterham C21 is newer by 42 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1955 Ford Prefect. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1955 Ford Prefect would be higher. At 1,587 cc (4 cylinders), 1997 Caterham C21 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 Caterham C21 (115 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 84 more horse power than 1955 Ford Prefect. (31 HP @ 4500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1997 Caterham C21 should accelerate faster than 1955 Ford Prefect. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1955 Ford Prefect weights approximately 115 kg more than 1997 Caterham C21.
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 Caterham C21 (145 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 73 more torque (in Nm) than 1955 Ford Prefect. (72 Nm @ 2150 RPM). This means 1997 Caterham C21 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1955 Ford Prefect.
Compare all specifications:
| 1997 Caterham C21 | 1955 Ford Prefect | |
| Make | Caterham | Ford |
| Model | C21 | Prefect |
| Year Released | 1997 | 1955 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1587 cc | 1172 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 115 HP | 31 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Torque | 145 Nm | 72 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2150 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 63.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 79 mm | 92.5 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 650 kg | 765 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3810 mm | 3850 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1590 mm | 1550 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1060 mm | 1500 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2260 mm | 2220 mm |
