1961 Austin A 40 vs. 1974 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1974 Mercury Cougar is newer by 13 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 5,764 cc (8 cylinders), 1974 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1974 Mercury Cougar (152 HP @ 3600 RPM) has 116 more horse power than 1961 Austin A 40. (36 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1974 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1961 Austin A 40. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 1270 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, 1974 Mercury Cougar (377 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 309 more torque (in Nm) than 1961 Austin A 40. (68 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1974 Mercury Cougar 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 | 1974 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Austin | Mercury |
| Model | A 40 | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1961 | 1974 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 948 cc | 5764 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 36 HP | 152 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 68 Nm | 377 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 1800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 760 kg | 2030 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3670 mm | 5480 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1520 mm | 2010 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2220 mm | 2910 mm |
