1948 Ford Prefect vs. 1971 Mercedes-Benz 300
To start off, 1971 Mercedes-Benz 300 is newer by 23 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1948 Ford Prefect. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1948 Ford Prefect would be higher. At 4,519 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Mercedes-Benz 300 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Mercedes-Benz 300 (195 HP @ 4500 RPM) has 164 more horse power than 1948 Ford Prefect. (31 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1971 Mercedes-Benz 300 should accelerate faster than 1948 Ford Prefect. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Mercedes-Benz 300 weights approximately 918 kg more than 1948 Ford Prefect. 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, 1971 Mercedes-Benz 300 (358 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 295 more torque (in Nm) than 1948 Ford Prefect. (63 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1971 Mercedes-Benz 300 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1948 Ford Prefect. 1971 Mercedes-Benz 300 has automatic transmission and 1948 Ford Prefect has manual transmission. 1948 Ford Prefect will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1971 Mercedes-Benz 300 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1948 Ford Prefect | 1971 Mercedes-Benz 300 | |
| Make | Ford | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | Prefect | 300 |
| Year Released | 1948 | 1971 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1172 cc | 4519 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 31 HP | 195 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Torque | 63 Nm | 358 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 63.5 mm | 92 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 92.5 mm | 85 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 6.2:1 | 8.0:1 |
| Top Speed | 105 km/hour | 200 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 837 kg | 1755 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3980 mm | 5010 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1450 mm | 1820 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2390 mm | 2860 mm |
