1998 Caterham C21 vs. 1975 Ford Escort
To start off, 1998 Caterham C21 is newer by 23 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1975 Ford Escort. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1975 Ford Escort would be higher. At 1,599 cc (4 cylinders), 1975 Ford Escort is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1998 Caterham C21 (115 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 53 more horse power than 1975 Ford Escort. (62 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1998 Caterham C21 should accelerate faster than 1975 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1975 Ford Escort weights approximately 250 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 36 more torque (in Nm) than 1975 Ford Escort. (110 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1998 Caterham C21 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1975 Ford Escort. 1975 Ford Escort 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. 1975 Ford Escort will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1998 Caterham C21 | 1975 Ford Escort | |
| Make | Caterham | Ford |
| Model | C21 | Escort |
| Year Released | 1998 | 1975 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1588 cc | 1599 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 115 HP | 62 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 146 Nm | 110 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 650 kg | 900 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3810 mm | 3980 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1590 mm | 1600 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1060 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2260 mm | 2410 mm |
