1961 AC Cobra vs. 1978 Ford Capri
To start off, 1978 Ford Capri is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1961 AC Cobra. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1961 AC Cobra would be higher. At 4,265 cc (8 cylinders), 1961 AC Cobra is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1961 AC Cobra (256 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 81 more horse power than 1978 Ford Capri. (175 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1961 AC Cobra should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Capri. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Ford Capri weights approximately 190 kg more than 1961 AC Cobra.
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, 1961 AC Cobra (365 Nm @ 4800 RPM) has 102 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Capri. (263 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1961 AC Cobra will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Capri.
Compare all specifications:
| 1961 AC Cobra | 1978 Ford Capri | |
| Make | AC | Ford |
| Model | Cobra | Capri |
| Year Released | 1961 | 1978 |
| Body Type | Roadster | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4265 cc | 2994 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 256 HP | 175 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 365 Nm | 263 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4800 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.0:1 | 9.1:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 980 kg | 1170 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3850 mm | 4400 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1560 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1250 mm | 1310 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2290 mm | 2570 mm |
