1959 Ford Escort vs. 1976 Mazda RX-4
To start off, 1976 Mazda RX-4 is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Ford Escort. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Ford Escort would be higher. At 2,616 cc, 1976 Mazda RX-4 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Mazda RX-4 (114 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 83 more horse power than 1959 Ford Escort. (31 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1976 Mazda RX-4 should accelerate faster than 1959 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Mazda RX-4 weights approximately 293 kg more than 1959 Ford Escort. 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, 1976 Mazda RX-4 (165 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 94 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Ford Escort. (71 Nm @ 2150 RPM). This means 1976 Mazda RX-4 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Ford Escort.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Ford Escort | 1976 Mazda RX-4 | |
| Make | Ford | Mazda |
| Model | Escort | RX-4 |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1171 cc | 2616 cc |
| Engine Type | in-line | dual-disk rotary |
| Horse Power | 31 HP | 114 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 71 Nm | 165 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2150 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 817 kg | 1110 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3810 mm | 4400 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1550 mm | 1670 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1500 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2220 mm | 2520 mm |
