1970 Ford 12 M vs. 1974 Mercedes-Benz 280
To start off, 1974 Mercedes-Benz 280 is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Ford 12 M. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Ford 12 M would be higher. At 2,744 cc (6 cylinders), 1974 Mercedes-Benz 280 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1974 Mercedes-Benz 280 (182 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 133 more horse power than 1970 Ford 12 M. (49 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1974 Mercedes-Benz 280 should accelerate faster than 1970 Ford 12 M. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Mercedes-Benz 280 weights approximately 710 kg more than 1970 Ford 12 M. 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, 1974 Mercedes-Benz 280 (238 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 145 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Ford 12 M. (93 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1974 Mercedes-Benz 280 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Ford 12 M.
Compare all specifications:
| 1970 Ford 12 M | 1974 Mercedes-Benz 280 | |
| Make | Ford | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | 12 M | 280 |
| Year Released | 1970 | 1974 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1305 cc | 2744 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 49 HP | 182 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 93 Nm | 238 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 850 kg | 1560 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4320 mm | 4760 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1610 mm | 1800 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1410 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2530 mm | 2830 mm |
