1974 Ford Cortina vs. 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300
To start off, 1974 Ford Cortina is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 would be higher. At 2,996 cc (6 cylinders), 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 (238 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 182 more horse power than 1974 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 should accelerate faster than 1974 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 weights approximately 440 kg more than 1974 Ford Cortina. 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, 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 (271 Nm @ 4600 RPM) has 180 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1974 Ford Cortina | 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 | |
| Make | Ford | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | Cortina | 300 |
| Year Released | 1974 | 1963 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1298 cc | 2996 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 56 HP | 238 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 271 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 4600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 85.1 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 63 mm | 88 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.3:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 945 kg | 1385 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 4580 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1800 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1310 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2410 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 55 L | 100 L |
