1968 AMC AMX vs. 1979 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1979 Mercury Cougar is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1968 AMC AMX. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1968 AMC AMX would be higher. At 6,386 cc (8 cylinders), 1968 AMC AMX is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1968 AMC AMX (315 HP @ 4600 RPM) has 181 more horse power than 1979 Mercury Cougar. (134 HP @ 3400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1968 AMC AMX should accelerate faster than 1979 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 478 kg more than 1968 AMC AMX.
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, 1968 AMC AMX (576 Nm @ 3200 RPM) has 240 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Mercury Cougar. (336 Nm @ 1600 RPM). This means 1968 AMC AMX will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Mercury Cougar.
Compare all specifications:
| 1968 AMC AMX | 1979 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | AMC | Mercury |
| Model | AMX | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1968 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 6386 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 315 HP | 134 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4600 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Torque | 576 Nm | 336 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3200 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1377 kg | 1855 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4510 mm | 5480 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1830 mm | 2010 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1320 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2470 mm | 2910 mm |
