1959 Ford 17M vs. 1972 Mazda 818
To start off, 1972 Mazda 818 is newer by 13 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Ford 17M. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Ford 17M would be higher. At 1,697 cc (4 cylinders), 1959 Ford 17M is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1972 Mazda 818 (68 HP @ 6200 RPM) has 9 more horse power than 1959 Ford 17M. (59 HP @ 4250 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1972 Mazda 818 should accelerate faster than 1959 Ford 17M. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1959 Ford 17M weights approximately 235 kg more than 1972 Mazda 818.
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, 1959 Ford 17M (120 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 28 more torque (in Nm) than 1972 Mazda 818. (92 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1959 Ford 17M will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1972 Mazda 818.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Ford 17M | 1972 Mazda 818 | |
| Make | Ford | Mazda |
| Model | 17M | 818 |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1972 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1697 cc | 1272 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 59 HP | 68 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4250 RPM | 6200 RPM |
| Torque | 120 Nm | 92 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1115 kg | 880 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4380 mm | 4080 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 1600 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1510 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2610 mm | 2320 mm |
