1978 Ford Taunus vs. 1971 Jensen SP
To start off, 1978 Ford Taunus is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Jensen SP. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Jensen SP would be higher. At 7,206 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Jensen SP is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Jensen SP (385 HP @ 4700 RPM) has 332 more horse power than 1978 Ford Taunus. (53 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1971 Jensen SP should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Taunus. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Jensen SP weights approximately 763 kg more than 1978 Ford Taunus. 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 Jensen SP (557 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 465 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Taunus. (92 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1971 Jensen SP will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Taunus. 1971 Jensen SP has automatic transmission and 1978 Ford Taunus has manual transmission. 1978 Ford Taunus will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1971 Jensen SP will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Ford Taunus | 1971 Jensen SP | |
| Make | Ford | Jensen |
| Model | Taunus | SP |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1971 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1294 cc | 7206 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 53 HP | 385 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 4700 RPM |
| Torque | 92 Nm | 557 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 79 mm | 109.7 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1020 kg | 1783 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4350 mm | 4780 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1760 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2580 mm | 2670 mm |
