1972 Ford Gran Torino vs. 1974 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1974 Mercury Cougar is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1972 Ford Gran Torino. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1972 Ford Gran Torino would be higher. At 5,764 cc (8 cylinders), 1974 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1972 Ford Gran Torino (161 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 9 more horse power than 1974 Mercury Cougar. (152 HP @ 3600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1972 Ford Gran Torino should accelerate faster than 1974 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 288 kg more than 1972 Ford Gran Torino.
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, 1974 Mercury Cougar (377 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 3 more torque (in Nm) than 1972 Ford Gran Torino. (374 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1974 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1972 Ford Gran Torino.
Compare all specifications:
1972 Ford Gran Torino | 1974 Mercury Cougar | |
Make | Ford | Mercury |
Model | Gran Torino | Cougar |
Year Released | 1972 | 1974 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 5751 cc | 5764 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | V | in-line |
Horse Power | 161 HP | 152 HP |
Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
Torque | 374 Nm | 377 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 1800 RPM |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1742 kg | 2030 kg |
Vehicle Length | 5270 mm | 5480 mm |
Vehicle Width | 2020 mm | 2010 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1320 mm | 1340 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2910 mm |