1966 Ford 12 M vs. 1978 Mazda 626
To start off, 1978 Mazda 626 is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1966 Ford 12 M. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1966 Ford 12 M would be higher. At 1,768 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Mazda 626 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Mazda 626 (93 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 23 more horse power than 1966 Ford 12 M. (70 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Mazda 626 should accelerate faster than 1966 Ford 12 M. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mazda 626 weights approximately 100 kg more than 1966 Ford 12 M. 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, 1978 Mazda 626 (150 Nm @ 3300 RPM) has 15 more torque (in Nm) than 1966 Ford 12 M. (135 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1978 Mazda 626 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1966 Ford 12 M.
Compare all specifications:
| 1966 Ford 12 M | 1978 Mazda 626 | |
| Make | Ford | Mazda |
| Model | 12 M | 626 |
| Year Released | 1966 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1699 cc | 1768 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 70 HP | 93 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 135 Nm | 150 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 3300 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82.5 mm | 80 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 82 mm | 88 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 895 kg | 995 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4320 mm | 4310 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1610 mm | 1670 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1410 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2530 mm | 2520 mm |
