1963 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III vs. 1966 Mercury Cyclone
To start off, 1966 Mercury Cyclone is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1963 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1963 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III would be higher. At 6,393 cc (8 cylinders), 1966 Mercury Cyclone is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1966 Mercury Cyclone (335 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 189 more horse power than 1963 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III. (146 HP @ 5250 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1966 Mercury Cyclone should accelerate faster than 1963 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1966 Mercury Cyclone weights approximately 452 kg more than 1963 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III. 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, 1966 Mercury Cyclone (579 Nm @ 3200 RPM) has 414 more torque (in Nm) than 1963 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III. (165 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1966 Mercury Cyclone will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1963 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III. 1966 Mercury Cyclone has automatic transmission and 1963 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III has manual transmission. 1963 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1966 Mercury Cyclone will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
1963 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III | 1966 Mercury Cyclone | |
Make | Austin-Healey | Mercury |
Model | 3000 Mk III | Cyclone |
Year Released | 1963 | 1966 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 2912 cc | 6393 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | V |
Horse Power | 146 HP | 335 HP |
Engine RPM | 5250 RPM | 4800 RPM |
Torque | 165 Nm | 579 Nm |
Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 3200 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 83.4 mm | 103 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 88.9 mm | 96 mm |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
Vehicle Weight | 1180 kg | 1632 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4010 mm | 4980 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1540 mm | 1880 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1250 mm | 1400 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2340 mm | 2950 mm |