1975 Ford Cortina vs. 1976 Mercedes-Benz 300
To start off, 1976 Mercedes-Benz 300 is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1975 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1975 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 3,005 cc (5 cylinders), 1976 Mercedes-Benz 300 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Mercedes-Benz 300 (80 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 24 more horse power than 1975 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1976 Mercedes-Benz 300 should accelerate faster than 1975 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Mercedes-Benz 300 weights approximately 405 kg more than 1975 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, 1976 Mercedes-Benz 300 (171 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 80 more torque (in Nm) than 1975 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1976 Mercedes-Benz 300 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1975 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1975 Ford Cortina | 1976 Mercedes-Benz 300 | |
| Make | Ford | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | Cortina | 300 |
| Year Released | 1975 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1298 cc | 3005 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 5 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 56 HP | 80 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 171 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 91 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 63 mm | 92.4 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 21.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1040 kg | 1445 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4280 mm | 4730 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1790 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1440 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2800 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 87 L | 65 L |
