1976 Ford Cortina vs. 1996 Mazda RX-7
To start off, 1996 Mazda RX-7 is newer by 20 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 2,616 cc, 1996 Mazda RX-7 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Mazda RX-7 (238 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 165 more horse power than 1976 Ford Cortina. (73 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1996 Mazda RX-7 should accelerate faster than 1976 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 Mazda RX-7 weights approximately 196 kg more than 1976 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, 1996 Mazda RX-7 (296 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 179 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Ford Cortina. (117 Nm @ 2700 RPM). This means 1996 Mazda RX-7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Ford Cortina | 1996 Mazda RX-7 | |
| Make | Ford | Mazda |
| Model | Cortina | RX-7 |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1996 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1593 cc | 2616 cc |
| Engine Type | in-line | dual-disk rotary |
| Horse Power | 73 HP | 238 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 117 Nm | 296 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2700 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 3 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1114 kg | 1310 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4490 mm | 4290 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1770 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1240 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2430 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 54 L | 55 L |
