1972 Lotus 72 vs. 1970 Mercury Monterey
To start off, 1972 Lotus 72 is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Mercury Monterey. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Mercury Monterey would be higher. At 5,769 cc (8 cylinders), 1970 Mercury Monterey is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1972 Lotus 72 (444 HP @ 10000 RPM) has 281 more horse power than 1970 Mercury Monterey. (163 HP @ 3800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1972 Lotus 72 should accelerate faster than 1970 Mercury Monterey. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1970 Mercury Monterey weights approximately 1382 kg more than 1972 Lotus 72.
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. 1970 Mercury Monterey has automatic transmission and 1972 Lotus 72 has manual transmission. 1972 Lotus 72 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1970 Mercury Monterey will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1972 Lotus 72 | 1970 Mercury Monterey | |
| Make | Lotus | Mercury |
| Model | 72 | Monterey |
| Year Released | 1972 | 1970 |
| Engine Size | 2992 cc | 5769 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 444 HP | 163 HP |
| Engine RPM | 10000 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 550 kg | 1932 kg |
