1976 Ford Thunderbird vs. 1973 Mercury Montego
To start off, 1976 Ford Thunderbird is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Mercury Montego. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Mercury Montego would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1976 Ford Thunderbird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Ford Thunderbird (135 HP @ 3400 RPM) has 39 more horse power than 1973 Mercury Montego. (96 HP @ 3600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1976 Ford Thunderbird should accelerate faster than 1973 Mercury Montego. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Mercury Montego weights approximately 75 kg more than 1976 Ford Thunderbird.
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 Ford Thunderbird (317 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 69 more torque (in Nm) than 1973 Mercury Montego. (248 Nm @ 1600 RPM). This means 1976 Ford Thunderbird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1973 Mercury Montego. 1976 Ford Thunderbird has automatic transmission and 1973 Mercury Montego has manual transmission. 1973 Mercury Montego will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1976 Ford Thunderbird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Ford Thunderbird | 1973 Mercury Montego | |
| Make | Ford | Mercury |
| Model | Thunderbird | Montego |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1973 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4942 cc | 4095 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 135 HP | 96 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3400 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 317 Nm | 248 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1600 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.4:1 | 8.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 6 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1620 kg | 1695 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5100 mm | 5300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1890 mm | 2010 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2760 mm | 3010 mm |
