1996 Caterham 7 vs. 1971 Riley 4
To start off, 1996 Caterham 7 is newer by 25 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Riley 4. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Riley 4 would be higher. At 1,622 cc (4 cylinders), 1971 Riley 4 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Caterham 7 (138 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 71 more horse power than 1971 Riley 4. (67 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1971 Riley 4. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Riley 4 weights approximately 670 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 35 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Riley 4. (121 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1996 Caterham 7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Riley 4.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 Caterham 7 | 1971 Riley 4 | |
| Make | Caterham | Riley |
| Model | 7 | 4 |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1971 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1588 cc | 1622 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 67 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 156 Nm | 121 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 8.3:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 478 kg | 1148 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3110 mm | 4540 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 810 mm | 1510 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2240 mm | 2530 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 36 L | 45 L |
