1970 Ford Corsair vs. 1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata
To start off, 1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata is newer by 26 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Ford Corsair. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Ford Corsair would be higher. At 1,596 cc (4 cylinders), 1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata (89 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 30 more horse power than 1970 Ford Corsair. (59 HP @ 4600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata should accelerate faster than 1970 Ford Corsair. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata weights approximately 80 kg more than 1970 Ford Corsair. 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, 1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata (129 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 28 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Ford Corsair. (101 Nm @ 2300 RPM). This means 1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Ford Corsair.
Compare all specifications:
| 1970 Ford Corsair | 1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata | |
| Make | Ford | Mazda |
| Model | Corsair | MX-5 Miata |
| Year Released | 1970 | 1996 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1498 cc | 1596 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 59 HP | 89 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4600 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 101 Nm | 129 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2300 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 885 kg | 965 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4500 mm | 3960 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1620 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1460 mm | 1240 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2570 mm | 2270 mm |
