1961 Ford Zodiac 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 Ford Zodiac. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1961 Ford Zodiac 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 76 more horse power than 1961 Ford Zodiac. (76 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1974 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1961 Ford Zodiac. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 839 kg more than 1961 Ford Zodiac. 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 190 more torque (in Nm) than 1961 Ford Zodiac. (187 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1974 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1961 Ford Zodiac.
Compare all specifications:
1961 Ford Zodiac | 1974 Mercury Cougar | |
Make | Ford | Mercury |
Model | Zodiac | Cougar |
Year Released | 1961 | 1974 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 2552 cc | 5764 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 76 HP | 152 HP |
Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 3600 RPM |
Torque | 187 Nm | 377 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 1800 RPM |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1191 kg | 2030 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4600 mm | 5480 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 2010 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1520 mm | 1340 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2720 mm | 2910 mm |