1972 Ford Gran Torino vs. 1970 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1972 Ford Gran Torino is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 6,553 cc (8 cylinders), 1972 Ford Gran Torino is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1972 Ford Gran Torino (168 HP @ 4200 RPM) has 1 more horse power than 1970 Mercury Cougar. (167 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1972 Ford Gran Torino should accelerate faster than 1970 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1972 Ford Gran Torino weights approximately 364 kg more than 1970 Mercury Cougar. 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, 1972 Ford Gran Torino (403 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 40 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Mercury Cougar. (363 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1972 Ford Gran Torino will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Mercury Cougar. 1972 Ford Gran Torino has automatic transmission and 1970 Mercury Cougar has manual transmission. 1970 Mercury Cougar will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1972 Ford Gran Torino will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
1972 Ford Gran Torino | 1970 Mercury Cougar | |
Make | Ford | Mercury |
Model | Gran Torino | Cougar |
Year Released | 1972 | 1970 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 6553 cc | 5769 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | V | in-line |
Horse Power | 168 HP | 167 HP |
Engine RPM | 4200 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Torque | 403 Nm | 363 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 2400 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 101.6 mm | 101.7 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 101.6 mm | 88.8 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 8.4:1 | 8.6:1 |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
Number of Doors | 5 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 2014 kg | 1650 kg |
Vehicle Length | 5470 mm | 5840 mm |
Vehicle Width | 2010 mm | 2000 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1340 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 3000 mm | 2860 mm |