1996 Caterham 7 vs. 1979 Ford LTD
To start off, 1996 Caterham 7 is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1979 Ford LTD. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1979 Ford LTD would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1979 Ford LTD is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Caterham 7 (138 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 9 more horse power than 1979 Ford LTD. (129 HP @ 3600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1979 Ford LTD. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Ford LTD weights approximately 1082 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, 1979 Ford LTD (302 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 146 more torque (in Nm) than 1996 Caterham 7. (156 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1979 Ford LTD will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1996 Caterham 7. 1979 Ford LTD has automatic transmission and 1996 Caterham 7 has manual transmission. 1996 Caterham 7 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1979 Ford LTD will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 Caterham 7 | 1979 Ford LTD | |
| Make | Caterham | Ford |
| Model | 7 | LTD |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1588 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 129 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 156 Nm | 302 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 8.4:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 478 kg | 1560 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3110 mm | 5320 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1980 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 810 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2240 mm | 2910 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 36 L | 72 L |
