1968 Ford 17 vs. 1980 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1980 Mercury Cougar is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1968 Ford 17. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1968 Ford 17 would be higher. At 4,184 cc (8 cylinders), 1980 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1968 Ford 17 (123 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 7 more horse power than 1980 Mercury Cougar. (116 HP @ 3400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1968 Ford 17 should accelerate faster than 1980 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 290 kg more than 1968 Ford 17.
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, 1980 Mercury Cougar (264 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 79 more torque (in Nm) than 1968 Ford 17. (185 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1980 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1968 Ford 17.
Compare all specifications:
| 1968 Ford 17 | 1980 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Ford | Mercury |
| Model | 17 | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1968 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2293 cc | 4184 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 123 HP | 116 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Torque | 185 Nm | 264 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2200 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1120 kg | 1410 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 4960 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1810 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1480 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2710 mm | 2690 mm |
