1966 Ford Cortina vs. 1979 Mazda 121
To start off, 1979 Mazda 121 is newer by 13 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1966 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1966 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 1,970 cc (4 cylinders), 1979 Mazda 121 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Mazda 121 (90 HP) has 41 more horse power than 1966 Ford Cortina. (49 HP) In normal driving conditions, 1979 Mazda 121 should accelerate faster than 1966 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Mazda 121 weights approximately 239 kg more than 1966 Ford Cortina. 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, 1966 Ford Cortina (185 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 25 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Mazda 121. (160 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1966 Ford Cortina will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Mazda 121.
Compare all specifications:
| 1966 Ford Cortina | 1979 Mazda 121 | |
| Make | Ford | Mazda |
| Model | Cortina | 121 |
| Year Released | 1966 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1296 cc | 1970 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 49 HP | 90 HP |
| Torque | 185 Nm | 160 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 80 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 63 mm | 98 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 8.6:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 895 kg | 1134 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4310 mm | 4510 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1650 mm | 1690 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2610 mm | 2520 mm |
