1959 Alpine A 106 vs. 1978 Mazda 818
To start off, 1978 Mazda 818 is newer by 19 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Alpine A 106. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Alpine A 106 would be higher. At 1,272 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Mazda 818 is equipped with a bigger engine. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mazda 818 weights approximately 470 kg more than 1959 Alpine A 106.
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 818 (92 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 47 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Alpine A 106. (45 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1978 Mazda 818 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Alpine A 106.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Alpine A 106 | 1978 Mazda 818 | |
| Make | Alpine | Mazda |
| Model | A 106 | 818 |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 747 cc | 1272 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 0 HP | 68 HP |
| Torque | 45 Nm | 92 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 530 kg | 1000 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3700 mm | 4100 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1450 mm | 1600 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1280 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2110 mm | 2320 mm |
