1971 Ford Mustang vs. 1978 Nissan Skyline
To start off, 1978 Nissan Skyline is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Ford Mustang. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Ford Mustang would be higher. At 5,752 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Ford Mustang is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Ford Mustang (330 HP @ 5400 RPM) has 241 more horse power than 1978 Nissan Skyline. (89 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Ford Mustang should accelerate faster than 1978 Nissan Skyline. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Ford Mustang weights approximately 565 kg more than 1978 Nissan Skyline. 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, 1971 Ford Mustang (503 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 370 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Nissan Skyline. (133 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1971 Ford Mustang will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Nissan Skyline.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Ford Mustang | 1978 Nissan Skyline | |
| Make | Ford | Nissan |
| Model | Mustang | Skyline |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5752 cc | 1595 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 330 HP | 89 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5400 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 503 Nm | 133 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1615 kg | 1050 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4820 mm | 4410 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1890 mm | 1630 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1280 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2780 mm | 2520 mm |
