1971 Ferrari 312 vs. 1966 Mercury Cyclone
To start off, 1971 Ferrari 312 is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1966 Mercury Cyclone. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1966 Mercury Cyclone would be higher. At 6,393 cc (8 cylinders), 1966 Mercury Cyclone is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Ferrari 312 (464 HP @ 12600 RPM) has 129 more horse power than 1966 Mercury Cyclone. (335 HP @ 4800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Ferrari 312 should accelerate faster than 1966 Mercury Cyclone. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1966 Mercury Cyclone weights approximately 1072 kg more than 1971 Ferrari 312.
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. 1966 Mercury Cyclone has automatic transmission and 1971 Ferrari 312 has manual transmission. 1971 Ferrari 312 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1966 Mercury Cyclone will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Ferrari 312 | 1966 Mercury Cyclone | |
| Make | Ferrari | Mercury |
| Model | 312 | Cyclone |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1966 |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2991 cc | 6393 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 12 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 464 HP | 335 HP |
| Engine RPM | 12600 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 560 kg | 1632 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4030 mm | 4980 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 960 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2390 mm | 2950 mm |
