1996 Caterham 7 vs. 1979 Volvo 66
To start off, 1996 Caterham 7 is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1979 Volvo 66. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1979 Volvo 66 would be higher. At 1,588 cc (4 cylinders), 1996 Caterham 7 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Caterham 7 (138 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 82 more horse power than 1979 Volvo 66. (56 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1979 Volvo 66.
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 62 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Volvo 66. (94 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 1996 Caterham 7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Volvo 66.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 Caterham 7 | 1979 Volvo 66 | |
| Make | Caterham | Volvo |
| Model | 7 | 66 |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1588 cc | 1289 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 56 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7000 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 156 Nm | 94 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 8.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Length | 3110 mm | 3910 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1550 mm |
