1957 Alpine A 106 vs. 1978 Mazda 626
To start off, 1978 Mazda 626 is newer by 21 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1957 Alpine A 106. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1957 Alpine A 106 would be higher. At 1,768 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Mazda 626 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Mazda 626 (93 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 44 more horse power than 1957 Alpine A 106. (49 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Mazda 626 should accelerate faster than 1957 Alpine A 106. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mazda 626 weights approximately 440 kg more than 1957 Alpine A 106. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
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, 1978 Mazda 626 (150 Nm @ 3300 RPM) has 93 more torque (in Nm) than 1957 Alpine A 106. (57 Nm @ 1800 RPM). This means 1978 Mazda 626 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1957 Alpine A 106. 1978 Mazda 626 has automatic transmission and 1957 Alpine A 106 has manual transmission. 1957 Alpine A 106 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Mazda 626 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1957 Alpine A 106 | 1978 Mazda 626 | |
| Make | Alpine | Mazda |
| Model | A 106 | 626 |
| Year Released | 1957 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 845 cc | 1768 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 49 HP | 93 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 57 Nm | 150 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1800 RPM | 3300 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 555 kg | 995 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3710 mm | 4310 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1460 mm | 1670 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1180 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2110 mm | 2520 mm |
