1961 Austin A 40 vs. 1970 Mercury Comet
To start off, 1970 Mercury Comet is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1961 Austin A 40. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1961 Austin A 40 would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1970 Mercury Comet is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1970 Mercury Comet (137 HP @ 4200 RPM) has 101 more horse power than 1961 Austin A 40. (36 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1970 Mercury Comet should accelerate faster than 1961 Austin A 40. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1970 Mercury Comet weights approximately 630 kg more than 1961 Austin A 40. 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, 1970 Mercury Comet (319 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 251 more torque (in Nm) than 1961 Austin A 40. (68 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1970 Mercury Comet will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1961 Austin A 40.
Compare all specifications:
| 1961 Austin A 40 | 1970 Mercury Comet | |
| Make | Austin | Mercury |
| Model | A 40 | Comet |
| Year Released | 1961 | 1970 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 948 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 36 HP | 137 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Torque | 68 Nm | 319 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 64.6 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 76.2 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 760 kg | 1390 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3670 mm | 4800 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1520 mm | 1800 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2220 mm | 2800 mm |
