1971 Ford Mustang vs. 1981 Holden Commodore
To start off, 1981 Holden Commodore is newer by 10 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 4,726 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Ford Mustang is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Ford Mustang (251 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 140 more horse power than 1981 Holden Commodore. (111 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Ford Mustang should accelerate faster than 1981 Holden Commodore. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Holden Commodore weights approximately 266 kg more than 1971 Ford Mustang.
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, 1981 Holden Commodore (231 Nm) has 85 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Ford Mustang. (146 Nm). This means 1981 Holden Commodore will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Ford Mustang. 1981 Holden Commodore has automatic transmission and 1971 Ford Mustang has manual transmission. 1971 Ford Mustang will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Holden Commodore will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Ford Mustang | 1981 Holden Commodore | |
| Make | Ford | Holden |
| Model | Mustang | Commodore |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1981 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4726 cc | 3298 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 251 HP | 111 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 146 Nm | 231 Nm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1000 kg | 1266 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4820 mm | 4710 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1890 mm | 1730 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2780 mm | 2670 mm |
