1967 Mercury Montclair vs. 1974 Renault 12
To start off, 1974 Renault 12 is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1967 Mercury Montclair. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1967 Mercury Montclair would be higher. At 6,989 cc (8 cylinders), 1967 Mercury Montclair is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1967 Mercury Montclair (340 HP @ 4600 RPM) has 287 more horse power than 1974 Renault 12. (53 HP @ 5250 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1967 Mercury Montclair should accelerate faster than 1974 Renault 12. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1967 Mercury Montclair weights approximately 410 kg more than 1974 Renault 12. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1967 Mercury Montclair is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1967 Mercury Montclair. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1974 Renault 12, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 1967 Mercury Montclair (626 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 530 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Renault 12. (96 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1967 Mercury Montclair will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Renault 12.
Compare all specifications:
| 1967 Mercury Montclair | 1974 Renault 12 | |
| Make | Mercury | Renault |
| Model | Montclair | 12 |
| Year Released | 1967 | 1974 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 6989 cc | 1289 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 340 HP | 53 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4600 RPM | 5250 RPM |
| Torque | 626 Nm | 96 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Vehicle Weight | 1360 kg | 950 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5560 mm | 4410 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1990 mm | 1640 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1410 mm | 1460 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3130 mm | 2450 mm |
