1973 Mercury Cougar vs. 2011 Ford Shelby GT 500
To start off, 2011 Ford Shelby GT 500 is newer by 38 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 5,769 cc (8 cylinders), 1973 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2011 Ford Shelby GT 500 (550 HP @ 6200 RPM) has 382 more horse power than 1973 Mercury Cougar. (168 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2011 Ford Shelby GT 500 should accelerate faster than 1973 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2011 Ford Shelby GT 500 weights approximately 150 kg more than 1973 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, 2011 Ford Shelby GT 500 (691 Nm @ 4250 RPM) has 328 more torque (in Nm) than 1973 Mercury Cougar. (363 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 2011 Ford Shelby GT 500 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1973 Mercury Cougar.
Compare all specifications:
1973 Mercury Cougar | 2011 Ford Shelby GT 500 | |
Make | Mercury | Ford |
Model | Cougar | Shelby GT 500 |
Year Released | 1973 | 2011 |
Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 5769 cc | 5400 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | V |
Horse Power | 168 HP | 550 HP |
Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 6200 RPM |
Torque | 363 Nm | 691 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 4250 RPM |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1650 kg | 1800 kg |
Vehicle Length | 5080 mm | 4780 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1920 mm | 1877 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1310 mm | 1420 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2860 mm | 2720 mm |