1960 Ford Zodiac vs. 1978 Mazda 626
To start off, 1978 Mazda 626 is newer by 18 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1960 Ford Zodiac. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1960 Ford Zodiac would be higher. At 2,552 cc (6 cylinders), 1960 Ford Zodiac is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Mazda 626 (93 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 17 more horse power than 1960 Ford Zodiac. (76 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Mazda 626 should accelerate faster than 1960 Ford Zodiac. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1960 Ford Zodiac weights approximately 196 kg more than 1978 Mazda 626.
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, 1960 Ford Zodiac (187 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 37 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Mazda 626. (150 Nm @ 3300 RPM). This means 1960 Ford Zodiac will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Mazda 626.
Compare all specifications:
| 1960 Ford Zodiac | 1978 Mazda 626 | |
| Make | Ford | Mazda |
| Model | Zodiac | 626 |
| Year Released | 1960 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2552 cc | 1768 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 76 HP | 93 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 187 Nm | 150 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 3300 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82.6 mm | 80 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 79.5 mm | 88 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1191 kg | 995 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4600 mm | 4310 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1670 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1520 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2720 mm | 2520 mm |
