1959 Jaguar XK vs. 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis
To start off, 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis is newer by 19 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Jaguar XK. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Jaguar XK would be higher. At 5,766 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1959 Jaguar XK (220 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 81 more horse power than 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis. (139 HP @ 3200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1959 Jaguar XK should accelerate faster than 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis weights approximately 280 kg more than 1959 Jaguar XK.
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 (353 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 28 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Jaguar XK. (325 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Jaguar XK.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Jaguar XK | 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis | |
| Make | Jaguar | Mercury |
| Model | XK | Grand Marquis |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3781 cc | 5766 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 220 HP | 139 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 3200 RPM |
| Torque | 325 Nm | 353 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2200 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1430 kg | 1710 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4500 mm | 5400 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1640 mm | 1980 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2600 mm | 2910 mm |
