1961 Abarth 1600 vs. 1972 Mercury Comet
To start off, 1972 Mercury Comet is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1961 Abarth 1600. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1961 Abarth 1600 would be higher. At 2,780 cc (6 cylinders), 1972 Mercury Comet is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1961 Abarth 1600 (89 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 7 more horse power than 1972 Mercury Comet. (82 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1961 Abarth 1600 should accelerate faster than 1972 Mercury Comet. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1972 Mercury Comet weights approximately 260 kg more than 1961 Abarth 1600.
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 Comet (178 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 40 more torque (in Nm) than 1961 Abarth 1600. (138 Nm @ 4600 RPM). This means 1972 Mercury Comet will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1961 Abarth 1600.
Compare all specifications:
| 1961 Abarth 1600 | 1972 Mercury Comet | |
| Make | Abarth | Mercury |
| Model | 1600 | Comet |
| Year Released | 1961 | 1972 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1586 cc | 2780 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 89 HP | 82 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 138 Nm | 178 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4600 RPM | 1800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 960 kg | 1220 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4040 mm | 4800 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1590 mm | 1800 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1280 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2350 mm | 2800 mm |
