1970 Ford 12 M vs. 1980 Mercedes-Benz 500
To start off, 1980 Mercedes-Benz 500 is newer by 10 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 4,972 cc (8 cylinders), 1980 Mercedes-Benz 500 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Mercedes-Benz 500 (242 HP @ 4750 RPM) has 193 more horse power than 1970 Ford 12 M. (49 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Mercedes-Benz 500 should accelerate faster than 1970 Ford 12 M. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Mercedes-Benz 500 weights approximately 690 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, 1980 Mercedes-Benz 500 (401 Nm @ 3200 RPM) has 308 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Ford 12 M. (93 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1980 Mercedes-Benz 500 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 | 1980 Mercedes-Benz 500 | |
| Make | Ford | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | 12 M | 500 |
| Year Released | 1970 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1305 cc | 4972 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 49 HP | 242 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 4750 RPM |
| Torque | 93 Nm | 401 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 3200 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 850 kg | 1540 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4320 mm | 4400 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1610 mm | 1800 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1410 mm | 1310 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2530 mm | 2470 mm |
