1959 Austin A 55 vs. 1972 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1972 Mercury Cougar is newer by 13 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Austin A 55. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Austin A 55 would be higher. At 5,769 cc (8 cylinders), 1972 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1972 Mercury Cougar (167 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 113 more horse power than 1959 Austin A 55. (54 HP @ 4350 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1972 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1959 Austin A 55. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1972 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 536 kg more than 1959 Austin A 55. 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, 1972 Mercury Cougar (363 Nm) has 295 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Austin A 55. (68 Nm). This means 1972 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Austin A 55.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Austin A 55 | 1972 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Austin | Mercury |
| Model | A 55 | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1972 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1489 cc | 5769 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 54 HP | 167 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4350 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 68 Nm | 363 Nm |
| Engine Bore Size | 73 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 88.9 mm | 88.8 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 1120 kg | 1656 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4460 mm | 5080 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1620 mm | 1920 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1310 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2530 mm | 2860 mm |
