1949 Fiat 500 vs. 1956 Mercury Montclair
To start off, 1956 Mercury Montclair is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1949 Fiat 500. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1949 Fiat 500 would be higher. At 5,114 cc (8 cylinders), 1956 Mercury Montclair is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1956 Mercury Montclair (258 HP @ 4600 RPM) has 242 more horse power than 1949 Fiat 500. (16 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1956 Mercury Montclair should accelerate faster than 1949 Fiat 500.
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. 1956 Mercury Montclair has automatic transmission and 1949 Fiat 500 has manual transmission. 1949 Fiat 500 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1956 Mercury Montclair will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1949 Fiat 500 | 1956 Mercury Montclair | |
| Make | Fiat | Mercury |
| Model | 500 | Montclair |
| Year Released | 1949 | 1956 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 569 cc | 5114 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 16 HP | 258 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 4600 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Length | 3250 mm | 5370 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1290 mm | 1960 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1440 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2010 mm | 3110 mm |
