1998 Caterham C21 vs. 1970 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1998 Caterham C21 is newer by 28 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 1,993 cc (4 cylinders), 1970 Ford Cortina is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1998 Caterham C21 (115 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 20 more horse power than 1970 Ford Cortina. (95 HP @ 5700 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1998 Caterham C21 should accelerate faster than 1970 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1970 Ford Cortina weights approximately 445 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, 1970 Ford Cortina (148 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 2 more torque (in Nm) than 1998 Caterham C21. (146 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1970 Ford Cortina will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1998 Caterham C21. 1970 Ford Cortina has automatic transmission and 1998 Caterham C21 has manual transmission. 1998 Caterham C21 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1970 Ford Cortina will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1998 Caterham C21 | 1970 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Caterham | Ford |
| Model | C21 | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1998 | 1970 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1588 cc | 1993 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 115 HP | 95 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 146 Nm | 148 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 650 kg | 1095 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3810 mm | 4280 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1590 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1060 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2260 mm | 2590 mm |
