1970 Ford Cortina vs. 1973 Mercedes-Benz 350
To start off, 1973 Mercedes-Benz 350 is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 3,499 cc (8 cylinders), 1973 Mercedes-Benz 350 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1973 Mercedes-Benz 350 (200 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 144 more horse power than 1970 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1973 Mercedes-Benz 350 should accelerate faster than 1970 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Mercedes-Benz 350 weights approximately 636 kg more than 1970 Ford Cortina. 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, 1973 Mercedes-Benz 350 (287 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 195 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Ford Cortina. (92 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1973 Mercedes-Benz 350 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Ford Cortina. 1973 Mercedes-Benz 350 has automatic transmission and 1970 Ford Cortina has manual transmission. 1970 Ford Cortina will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1973 Mercedes-Benz 350 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1970 Ford Cortina | 1973 Mercedes-Benz 350 | |
| Make | Ford | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | Cortina | 350 |
| Year Released | 1970 | 1973 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1298 cc | 3499 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 56 HP | 200 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 92 Nm | 287 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 92 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 63 mm | 65.8 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1040 kg | 1676 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4280 mm | 4970 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1430 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2870 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 87 L | 95 L |
