1998 Caterham C21 vs. 1981 Ford Capri
To start off, 1998 Caterham C21 is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Ford Capri. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Ford Capri would be higher. At 1,593 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Ford Capri is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1998 Caterham C21 (115 HP) has 45 more horse power than 1981 Ford Capri. (70 HP). In normal driving conditions, 1998 Caterham C21 should accelerate faster than 1981 Ford Capri. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Ford Capri weights approximately 360 kg more than 1998 Caterham C21.
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, 1998 Caterham C21 (146 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 29 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Ford Capri. (117 Nm @ 2700 RPM). This means 1998 Caterham C21 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Ford Capri.
Compare all specifications:
| 1998 Caterham C21 | 1981 Ford Capri | |
| Make | Caterham | Ford |
| Model | C21 | Capri |
| Year Released | 1998 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1588 cc | 1593 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 115 HP | 70 HP |
| Torque | 146 Nm | 117 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2700 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 87.7 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 79 mm | 66 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 650 kg | 1010 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3810 mm | 4450 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1590 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1060 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2260 mm | 2570 mm |
