1959 Ford Prefect vs. 1974 Mazda 818
To start off, 1974 Mazda 818 is newer by 15 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Ford Prefect. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Ford Prefect would be higher. At 1,272 cc (4 cylinders), 1974 Mazda 818 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1974 Mazda 818 (68 HP @ 6200 RPM) has 30 more horse power than 1959 Ford Prefect. (38 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1974 Mazda 818 should accelerate faster than 1959 Ford Prefect. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Mazda 818 weights approximately 80 kg more than 1959 Ford Prefect. 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, 1974 Mazda 818 (92 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 20 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Ford Prefect. (72 Nm @ 2700 RPM). This means 1974 Mazda 818 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Ford Prefect.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Ford Prefect | 1974 Mazda 818 | |
| Make | Ford | Mazda |
| Model | Prefect | 818 |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1974 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 996 cc | 1272 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 38 HP | 68 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 6200 RPM |
| Torque | 72 Nm | 92 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2700 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 800 kg | 880 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3810 mm | 4080 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1550 mm | 1600 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1520 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2220 mm | 2320 mm |
