1963 Ferrari 250 GTE vs. 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280
To start off, 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 is newer by 16 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1963 Ferrari 250 GTE. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1963 Ferrari 250 GTE would be higher. At 2,951 cc (12 cylinders), 1963 Ferrari 250 GTE is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1963 Ferrari 250 GTE (235 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 50 more horse power than 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280. (185 HP @ 5800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1963 Ferrari 250 GTE should accelerate faster than 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 weights approximately 130 kg more than 1963 Ferrari 250 GTE.
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, 1963 Ferrari 250 GTE (245 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 5 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280. (240 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1963 Ferrari 250 GTE will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280. 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 has automatic transmission and 1963 Ferrari 250 GTE has manual transmission. 1963 Ferrari 250 GTE will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1963 Ferrari 250 GTE | 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 | |
| Make | Ferrari | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | 250 GTE | 280 |
| Year Released | 1963 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2951 cc | 2745 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 12 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 235 HP | 185 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7000 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 245 Nm | 240 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 73 mm | 86 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 58.8 mm | 78.8 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.2:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Top Speed | 230 km/hour | 209 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1430 kg | 1560 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4710 mm | 5000 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1780 mm | 1830 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1440 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2610 mm | 2940 mm |
