1966 Ford Zephyr vs. 1997 Mazda RX-7
To start off, 1997 Mazda RX-7 is newer by 31 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1966 Ford Zephyr. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1966 Ford Zephyr would be higher. At 2,616 cc, 1997 Mazda RX-7 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 Mazda RX-7 (197 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 109 more horse power than 1966 Ford Zephyr. (88 HP @ 4750 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1997 Mazda RX-7 should accelerate faster than 1966 Ford Zephyr. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1997 Mazda RX-7 weights approximately 60 kg more than 1966 Ford Zephyr. 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, 1997 Mazda RX-7 (271 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 104 more torque (in Nm) than 1966 Ford Zephyr. (167 Nm @ 2750 RPM). This means 1997 Mazda RX-7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1966 Ford Zephyr.
Compare all specifications:
| 1966 Ford Zephyr | 1997 Mazda RX-7 | |
| Make | Ford | Mazda |
| Model | Zephyr | RX-7 |
| Year Released | 1966 | 1997 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1995 cc | 2616 cc |
| Engine Type | V | dual-disk rotary |
| Horse Power | 88 HP | 197 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4750 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 167 Nm | 271 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2750 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1250 kg | 1310 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4710 mm | 4300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1820 mm | 1760 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1490 mm | 1240 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2940 mm | 2430 mm |
