1998 Caterham C21 vs. 1957 Ford Escort
To start off, 1998 Caterham C21 is newer by 41 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1957 Ford Escort. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1957 Ford Escort would be higher. At 1,588 cc (4 cylinders), 1998 Caterham C21 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1998 Caterham C21 (115 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 84 more horse power than 1957 Ford Escort. (31 HP @ 4500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1998 Caterham C21 should accelerate faster than 1957 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1957 Ford Escort weights approximately 167 kg more than 1998 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, 1998 Caterham C21 (146 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 75 more torque (in Nm) than 1957 Ford Escort. (71 Nm @ 2150 RPM). This means 1998 Caterham C21 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1957 Ford Escort.
Compare all specifications:
| 1998 Caterham C21 | 1957 Ford Escort | |
| Make | Caterham | Ford |
| Model | C21 | Escort |
| Year Released | 1998 | 1957 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1588 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 | 146 Nm | 71 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 |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 650 kg | 817 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3810 mm | 3810 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1590 mm | 1550 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1060 mm | 1500 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2260 mm | 2220 mm |
