1956 Ford Consul vs. 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis
To start off, 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis is newer by 22 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1956 Ford Consul. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1956 Ford Consul would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis (129 HP @ 3600 RPM) has 82 more horse power than 1956 Ford Consul. (47 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis should accelerate faster than 1956 Ford Consul. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis weights approximately 601 kg more than 1956 Ford Consul. 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, 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis (303 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 179 more torque (in Nm) than 1956 Ford Consul. (124 Nm @ 2300 RPM). This means 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1956 Ford Consul.
Compare all specifications:
| 1956 Ford Consul | 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis | |
| Make | Ford | Mercury |
| Model | Consul | Grand Marquis |
| Year Released | 1956 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1703 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 47 HP | 129 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 124 Nm | 303 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2300 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82.6 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 79.5 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1089 kg | 1690 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4380 mm | 5400 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1750 mm | 1980 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1570 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2660 mm | 2910 mm |
