1961 Ford Taunus vs. 1979 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1979 Mercury Cougar is newer by 18 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1961 Ford Taunus. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1961 Ford Taunus would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1979 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Mercury Cougar (134 HP @ 3400 RPM) has 81 more horse power than 1961 Ford Taunus. (53 HP @ 4250 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1979 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1961 Ford Taunus. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 895 kg more than 1961 Ford Taunus. 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, 1979 Mercury Cougar (336 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 225 more torque (in Nm) than 1961 Ford Taunus. (111 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1979 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1961 Ford Taunus.
Compare all specifications:
1961 Ford Taunus | 1979 Mercury Cougar | |
Make | Ford | Mercury |
Model | Taunus | Cougar |
Year Released | 1961 | 1979 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1497 cc | 4942 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 53 HP | 134 HP |
Engine RPM | 4250 RPM | 3400 RPM |
Torque | 111 Nm | 336 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 1600 RPM |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 960 kg | 1855 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4460 mm | 5480 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 2010 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1460 mm | 1340 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2640 mm | 2910 mm |