2004 Caterham 7 vs. 1975 Ford Cortina
To start off, 2004 Caterham 7 is newer by 29 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1975 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1975 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 1,997 cc (4 cylinders), 2004 Caterham 7 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2004 Caterham 7 (251 HP @ 8000 RPM) has 195 more horse power than 1975 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2004 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1975 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1975 Ford Cortina weights approximately 475 kg more than 2004 Caterham 7.
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, 2004 Caterham 7 (258 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 167 more torque (in Nm) than 1975 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 2004 Caterham 7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1975 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 2004 Caterham 7 | 1975 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Caterham | Ford |
| Model | 7 | Cortina |
| Year Released | 2004 | 1975 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1997 cc | 1298 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 251 HP | 56 HP |
| Engine RPM | 8000 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 258 Nm | 91 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 470 kg | 945 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3110 mm | 4270 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 810 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2230 mm | 2570 mm |
