1971 Ford GT 40 vs. 1978 Mazda 626
To start off, 1978 Mazda 626 is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Ford GT 40. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Ford GT 40 would be higher. At 4,195 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Ford GT 40 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Ford GT 40 (350 HP @ 7200 RPM) has 271 more horse power than 1978 Mazda 626. (79 HP @ 4500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Ford GT 40 should accelerate faster than 1978 Mazda 626. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mazda 626 weights approximately 210 kg more than 1971 Ford GT 40.
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 (142 Nm) has 57 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Ford GT 40. (85 Nm). This means 1978 Mazda 626 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Ford GT 40. 1978 Mazda 626 has automatic transmission and 1971 Ford GT 40 has manual transmission. 1971 Ford GT 40 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Mazda 626 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Ford GT 40 | 1978 Mazda 626 | |
| Make | Ford | Mazda |
| Model | GT 40 | 626 |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 4195 cc | 1970 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 350 HP | 79 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7200 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Torque | 85 Nm | 142 Nm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 960 kg | 1170 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4350 mm | 4310 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1800 mm | 1670 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 980 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2420 mm | 2520 mm |
