1971 Ford Mustang vs. 1989 Mazda RX-7
To start off, 1989 Mazda RX-7 is newer by 18 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 54 more horse power than 1989 Mazda RX-7. (197 HP @ 6500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Ford Mustang should accelerate faster than 1989 Mazda RX-7. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1989 Mazda RX-7 weights approximately 300 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, 1989 Mazda RX-7 (271 Nm) has 125 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Ford Mustang. (146 Nm). This means 1989 Mazda RX-7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Ford Mustang.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Ford Mustang | 1989 Mazda RX-7 | |
| Make | Ford | Mazda |
| Model | Mustang | RX-7 |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1989 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Convertible |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4726 cc | 2616 cc |
| Engine Type | V | dual-disk rotary |
| Horse Power | 251 HP | 197 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 146 Nm | 271 Nm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1000 kg | 1300 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4820 mm | 4320 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1890 mm | 1700 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2780 mm | 2430 mm |
