1971 BMW 3 vs. 1956 Mercury Montclair
To start off, 1971 BMW 3 is newer by 15 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1956 Mercury Montclair. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1956 Mercury Montclair would be higher. At 5,114 cc (8 cylinders), 1956 Mercury Montclair is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1956 Mercury Montclair (258 HP @ 4600 RPM) has 78 more horse power than 1971 BMW 3. (180 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1956 Mercury Montclair should accelerate faster than 1971 BMW 3.
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. 1956 Mercury Montclair has automatic transmission and 1971 BMW 3 has manual transmission. 1971 BMW 3 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1956 Mercury Montclair will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 BMW 3 | 1956 Mercury Montclair | |
| Make | BMW | Mercury |
| Model | 3 | Montclair |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1956 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2986 cc | 5114 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 180 HP | 258 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4600 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.7:1 |
| Top Speed | 211 km/hour | 172 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Length | 4740 mm | 5370 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1700 mm | 1960 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1440 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2670 mm | 3110 mm |
