1971 Ford Mustang vs. 1987 Mazda RX-7
To start off, 1987 Mazda RX-7 is newer by 16 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 182 more horse power than 1987 Mazda RX-7. (148 HP @ 6500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Ford Mustang should accelerate faster than 1987 Mazda RX-7. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Ford Mustang weights approximately 385 kg more than 1987 Mazda RX-7. 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 317 more torque (in Nm) than 1987 Mazda RX-7. (186 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1971 Ford Mustang will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1987 Mazda RX-7.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Ford Mustang | 1987 Mazda RX-7 | |
| Make | Ford | Mazda |
| Model | Mustang | RX-7 |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1987 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5752 cc | 2616 cc |
| Engine Type | V | dual-disk rotary |
| Horse Power | 330 HP | 148 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5400 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 503 Nm | 186 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1615 kg | 1230 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4820 mm | 4320 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1890 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1280 mm | 1270 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2780 mm | 2440 mm |
