1995 Caterham 21 vs. 1979 Mazda 121
To start off, 1995 Caterham 21 is newer by 16 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1979 Mazda 121. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1979 Mazda 121 would be higher. At 1,970 cc (4 cylinders), 1979 Mazda 121 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1995 Caterham 21 (138 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 48 more horse power than 1979 Mazda 121. (90 HP @ 4800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1995 Caterham 21 should accelerate faster than 1979 Mazda 121. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Mazda 121 weights approximately 486 kg more than 1995 Caterham 21.
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, 1979 Mazda 121 (160 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 4 more torque (in Nm) than 1995 Caterham 21. (156 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1979 Mazda 121 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1995 Caterham 21.
Compare all specifications:
| 1995 Caterham 21 | 1979 Mazda 121 | |
| Make | Caterham | Mazda |
| Model | 21 | 121 |
| Year Released | 1995 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1588 cc | 1970 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 90 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7000 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Torque | 156 Nm | 160 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 80 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 79 mm | 98 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 8.6:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 648 kg | 1134 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3810 mm | 4510 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1590 mm | 1690 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1070 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2260 mm | 2520 mm |
