1964 Austin-Healey Sprite vs. 1966 Mercury Cyclone
To start off, 1966 Mercury Cyclone is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1964 Austin-Healey Sprite. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1964 Austin-Healey Sprite 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 276 more horse power than 1964 Austin-Healey Sprite. (59 HP @ 5750 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1966 Mercury Cyclone should accelerate faster than 1964 Austin-Healey Sprite. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1966 Mercury Cyclone weights approximately 918 kg more than 1964 Austin-Healey Sprite. 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 495 more torque (in Nm) than 1964 Austin-Healey Sprite. (84 Nm @ 3250 RPM). This means 1966 Mercury Cyclone will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1964 Austin-Healey Sprite. 1966 Mercury Cyclone has automatic transmission and 1964 Austin-Healey Sprite has manual transmission. 1964 Austin-Healey Sprite 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:
1964 Austin-Healey Sprite | 1966 Mercury Cyclone | |
Make | Austin-Healey | Mercury |
Model | Sprite | Cyclone |
Year Released | 1964 | 1966 |
Body Type | Roadster | Coupe |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1098 cc | 6393 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | V |
Horse Power | 59 HP | 335 HP |
Engine RPM | 5750 RPM | 4800 RPM |
Torque | 84 Nm | 579 Nm |
Torque RPM | 3250 RPM | 3200 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 64.6 mm | 103 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 83.7 mm | 96 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 10.5:1 |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
Vehicle Weight | 714 kg | 1632 kg |
Vehicle Length | 3470 mm | 4980 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1350 mm | 1880 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1270 mm | 1400 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2040 mm | 2950 mm |