1997 Chevrolet Express vs. 1981 Ford Mustang
To start off, 1997 Chevrolet Express is newer by 16 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Ford Mustang. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Ford Mustang would be higher. At 4,997 cc (8 cylinders), 1997 Chevrolet Express is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 Chevrolet Express (217 HP @ 4600 RPM) has 130 more horse power than 1981 Ford Mustang. (87 HP @ 4800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1997 Chevrolet Express should accelerate faster than 1981 Ford Mustang. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1997 Chevrolet Express weights approximately 1179 kg more than 1981 Ford Mustang. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
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, 1997 Chevrolet Express (379 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 218 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Ford Mustang. (161 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 1997 Chevrolet Express will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Ford Mustang. 1997 Chevrolet Express has automatic transmission and 1981 Ford Mustang has manual transmission. 1981 Ford Mustang will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1997 Chevrolet Express will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1997 Chevrolet Express | 1981 Ford Mustang | |
| Make | Chevrolet | Ford |
| Model | Express | Mustang |
| Year Released | 1997 | 1981 |
| Body Type | Van | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4997 cc | 2294 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 217 HP | 87 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4600 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Torque | 379 Nm | 161 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 2364 kg | 1185 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5560 mm | 4560 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2020 mm | 1720 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 2030 mm | 1320 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3440 mm | 2560 mm |
