1953 Ford Prefect vs. 1981 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1981 Mercury Cougar is newer by 28 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1953 Ford Prefect. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1953 Ford Prefect would be higher. At 3,797 cc (6 cylinders), 1981 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Mercury Cougar (114 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 83 more horse power than 1953 Ford Prefect. (31 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1953 Ford Prefect. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 591 kg more than 1953 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, 1981 Mercury Cougar (237 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 166 more torque (in Nm) than 1953 Ford Prefect. (71 Nm @ 2150 RPM). This means 1981 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1953 Ford Prefect.
Compare all specifications:
| 1953 Ford Prefect | 1981 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Ford | Mercury |
| Model | Prefect | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1953 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1172 cc | 3797 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 31 HP | 114 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 71 Nm | 237 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2150 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 765 kg | 1356 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3850 mm | 4960 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1550 mm | 1810 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1500 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2220 mm | 2690 mm |
