1956 Buick 40 vs. 1970 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1970 Mercury Cougar is newer by 14 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1956 Buick 40. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1956 Buick 40 would be higher. At 5,769 cc (8 cylinders), 1970 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1956 Buick 40 (252 HP @ 4400 RPM) has 85 more horse power than 1970 Mercury Cougar. (167 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1956 Buick 40 should accelerate faster than 1970 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1970 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 60 kg more than 1956 Buick 40.
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, 1956 Buick 40 (462 Nm @ 3200 RPM) has 99 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Mercury Cougar. (363 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1956 Buick 40 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Mercury Cougar.
Compare all specifications:
| 1956 Buick 40 | 1970 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Buick | Mercury |
| Model | 40 | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1956 | 1970 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5279 cc | 5769 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 252 HP | 167 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 462 Nm | 363 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3200 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 101.6 mm | 101.7 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 81.4 mm | 88.8 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 1590 kg | 1650 kg |
| Vehicle Width | 1950 mm | 2000 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3110 mm | 2860 mm |
