1974 Ford Cortina vs. 1989 Mazda RX-7
To start off, 1989 Mazda RX-7 is newer by 15 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 2,616 cc, 1989 Mazda RX-7 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 Mazda RX-7 (197 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 141 more horse power than 1974 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1989 Mazda RX-7 should accelerate faster than 1974 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1989 Mazda RX-7 weights approximately 355 kg more than 1974 Ford Cortina. 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, 1989 Mazda RX-7 (271 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 180 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1989 Mazda RX-7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1974 Ford Cortina | 1989 Mazda RX-7 | |
| Make | Ford | Mazda |
| Model | Cortina | RX-7 |
| Year Released | 1974 | 1989 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1298 cc | 2616 cc |
| Engine Type | in-line | dual-disk rotary |
| Horse Power | 56 HP | 197 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 271 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 945 kg | 1300 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 4320 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1270 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2430 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 55 L | 75 L |
