1996 Caterham 7 vs. 1969 Ford Zephyr
To start off, 1996 Caterham 7 is newer by 27 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1969 Ford Zephyr. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1969 Ford Zephyr would be higher. At 1,995 cc (4 cylinders), 1969 Ford Zephyr is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Caterham 7 (138 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 57 more horse power than 1969 Ford Zephyr. (81 HP @ 4750 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1969 Ford Zephyr. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1969 Ford Zephyr weights approximately 772 kg more than 1996 Caterham 7.
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 Caterham 7 (156 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 3 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Ford Zephyr. (153 Nm @ 2750 RPM). This means 1996 Caterham 7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Ford Zephyr.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 Caterham 7 | 1969 Ford Zephyr | |
| Make | Caterham | Ford |
| Model | 7 | Zephyr |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1969 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1588 cc | 1995 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 81 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7000 RPM | 4750 RPM |
| Torque | 156 Nm | 153 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 2750 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 478 kg | 1250 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3110 mm | 4710 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1820 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 810 mm | 1490 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2240 mm | 2930 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 36 L | 41 L |
