1997 Caterham C21 vs. 1957 Ford Consul
To start off, 1997 Caterham C21 is newer by 40 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1957 Ford Consul. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1957 Ford Consul would be higher. At 1,701 cc (4 cylinders), 1957 Ford Consul is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 Caterham C21 (138 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 87 more horse power than 1957 Ford Consul. (51 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1997 Caterham C21 should accelerate faster than 1957 Ford Consul. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1957 Ford Consul weights approximately 426 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 (153 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 26 more torque (in Nm) than 1957 Ford Consul. (127 Nm @ 2300 RPM). This means 1997 Caterham C21 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1957 Ford Consul.
Compare all specifications:
| 1997 Caterham C21 | 1957 Ford Consul | |
| Make | Caterham | Ford |
| Model | C21 | Consul |
| Year Released | 1997 | 1957 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1588 cc | 1701 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 51 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7000 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 153 Nm | 127 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 2300 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 82.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 79 mm | 79.5 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 654 kg | 1080 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3810 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1590 mm | 1750 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1060 mm | 1570 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2260 mm | 2660 mm |
