Ford M151

Ford M151: which 2.3 MT to choose (61 hp vs 71 hp)

The Ford M151 was sold in 1 generation (1959–1982) as an SUV cabriolet with 2 versions, both named 2.3 MT. The choice is not between bodies, gearboxes, or drivetrains: both cars are Gasoline, 4-cylinder Inline, No boost, Carburetor, Manual 4, AWD, and 1070 kg kerb weight. The only measured differences are output and top speed.

The Ford M151 was sold in 1 generation (1959–1982) as an SUV cabriolet with 2 versions, both named 2.3 MT. The choice is not between bodies, gearboxes, or drivetrains: both cars are Gasoline, 4-cylinder Inline, No boost, Carburetor, Manual 4, AWD, and 1070 kg kerb weight. The only measured differences are output and top speed. 2.3 MT at 71 hp is 10 hp stronger than 2.3 MT at 61 hp (+16.4%), 11 Nm stronger (173 vs 162 Nm), and 7 km/h faster at the limiter (112 vs 105 km/h). 0–100, mpg, tank, ground clearance, and wheel size are not measured on either car, so they cannot be used to pick a version.

Which Ford M151 version to buy

Buy 2.3 MT (71 hp / 52 kW) if the numbers that exist in the catalogue matter to you: more peak power, more torque, and a higher stated maximum speed, at the same displacement, same kerb weight, and the same 4-speed Manual AWD layout.

Buy 2.3 MT (61 hp / 45 kW) only if you specifically want the lower-output calibration of the same 2320 cm³ engine. It does not save weight (1070 kg on both), does not change cylinder count, boost, gearbox, or drive, and does not show a measured fuel-economy advantage — city, highway, and combined consumption are not measured for either 2.3 MT.

There is no later generation to “wait for.” pokoleniy = 1: production of this Ford M151 generation runs from 1959-01-01 to 1982-12-31 for both versions. A restyle is not listed as a separate generation in the data, so there is no third body or second-generation spec sheet to compare.

Arithmetic that decides the choice

The extra 10 hp arrives at a higher engine speed (4000 vs 3600 rpm). Peak torque also moves up slightly (1800 vs 1700 rpm). That is the whole “what the extra output buys” story in this catalogue: the 71 hp 2.3 MT is the same 2320 cm³ Inline 4 with the same 7.5 compression ratio and the same 98.52 × 76.2 bore × stroke, tuned to make 11 Nm more and to be limited 7 km/h higher.

Because kerb weight is identical, specific power is the cleanest ranking: 66.4 hp per tonne versus 57.0 hp per tonne. There is no price field in the data, so “extra money” cannot be calculated in currency — only in horsepower, newton-metres, and km/h.

Ford M151 generations (what actually changed)

1 generation is the only generation. Years: 1959–1982. Body: SUV cabriolet. Versions in this generation: 2, both 2.3 MT.

Nothing in the data splits the run into a facelift generation. Both 2.3 MT rows share the same start and stop dates (1959-01-01–1982-12-31). Generation-to-generation comparison therefore collapses to version-to-version comparison inside this one generation. There is no later Ford M151 here with a different body, a different gearbox count, or a different drive type.

What did not change between the two versions in this generation: Gasoline fuel type, 4 cylinders, Inline layout, 2 valves per cylinder, No boost, Front, longitudinal engine, Carburetor, compression 7.5, bore × stroke 98.52 × 76.2, fuel grade 80, Manual 4, AWD, independent spring suspension front and rear, drum brakes front and rear, kerb weight 1070 kg.

What did change: peak power (61 vs 71 hp), power rpm (3600 vs 4000), torque (162 vs 173 Nm), torque rpm (1700 vs 1800), maximum speed (105 vs 112 km/h).

Ford M151 specs: engines, gearbox, drive

Both versions use the same displacement and the same mechanical layout. Names are kept exactly as in the database.

Shared engine details that do not separate the two 2.3 MT cars: 2 valves per cylinder, Carburetor, compression ratio 7.5, bore × stroke 98.52 × 76.2.

If you are choosing on drivetrain alone, there is no choice: AWD and Manual 4 on both. If you are choosing on boost, there is no turbo or supercharger option — boost is No on both. If you are choosing on fuel type, both are Gasoline.

Performance, top speed, and mpg

0–100 km/h is not measured for 2.3 MT (61 hp) and not measured for 2.3 MT (71 hp). Do not treat a missing sprint time as “this SUV cabriolet does not have acceleration”; the figure is simply not in the data.

Top speed is measured: 105 km/h on 2.3 MT (61 hp) and 112 km/h on 2.3 MT (71 hp). The 71 hp car’s limiter is 7 km/h higher. That is the only performance number that ranks the two versions without inventing a 0–100 time.

Fuel consumption (city, highway, combined) is not measured for either 2.3 MT. CO2 is not measured. Eco class is not measured. MPG cannot be used to pick a Ford M151 version in this catalogue. Same displacement, same kerb weight, and the same Carburetor feed do not prove equal thirst; they only mean the data does not record a difference.

Dimensions, weight, ground clearance, tank, wheels

Weight does not break the tie: both 2.3 MT versions sit at 1070 kg kerb. Gross mass is not measured, so payload cannot be compared. Ground clearance is not measured, so the SUV cabriolet body type cannot be ranked by millimetres of clearance. Tank volume is not measured, so range cannot be estimated from these rows. Wheel sizes are not measured.

Suspension and brakes are the same on both versions and therefore do not change the buying decision: front Independent, spring; rear Independent, spring; front brakes Drum; rear brakes Drum.

Reliability and problems: what the spec sheet does and does not say

There is no failure-rate, recall, or service-interval field in the data. Reliability of the Ford M151 cannot be scored from these numbers. What can be stated without leaving the sheet:

• Both 2.3 MT versions are Gasoline Carburetor engines with No boost, 4 Inline cylinders, 2 valves per cylinder, and compression 7.5.
• Both use Drum brakes at both axles and Independent, spring suspension at both axles.
• Both are AWD with a 4-speed Manual.
• Fuel grade in the data is 80 for both.

Those facts describe the hardware that is listed. They are not a reliability ranking. Problems such as rust, parts supply, or gearbox wear are not measured here.

Ford M151 dimensions and body when choosing a version

Body type does not split the range: 1 generation, SUV cabriolet only. You are not choosing between a closed wagon and an open SUV cabriolet; you are choosing between two power outputs of 2.3 MT in the same body class, over the same 1959–1982 window.

If the open SUV cabriolet format is the reason you are looking at the M151, either 2.3 MT matches that body label. The 71 hp row does not add a different body; it adds 10 hp, 11 Nm, and 7 km/h of stated top speed on the same 1070 kg kerb weight.

Verdict in one line per version

• 2.3 MT (71 hp / 52 kW, 173 Nm, 112 km/h): the stronger of the two catalogue versions — +16.4% power, +6.8% torque, 15.1 kg/hp versus 17.5 kg/hp, same 2320 cm³, same Manual 4 AWD. Default pick when the measured figures are the criterion.
• 2.3 MT (61 hp / 45 kW, 162 Nm, 105 km/h): the same Gasoline Inline 4, same 1070 kg, lower peak and lower limiter. Choose it only if you want this specific 61 hp calibration; the data does not show a weight, mpg, tank, or clearance benefit.

No other named version exists in this Ford M151 dataset. There is no automatic, no second displacement, and no second generation to cross-shop.