1976 Holden Sunbird vs. 1973 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1976 Holden Sunbird is newer by 3 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 7,542 cc (8 cylinders), 1973 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1973 Mercury Cougar (213 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 40 more horse power than 1976 Holden Sunbird. (173 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1973 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1976 Holden Sunbird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 893 kg more than 1976 Holden Sunbird. 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, 1973 Mercury Cougar (498 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 173 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Holden Sunbird. (325 Nm @ 3400 RPM). This means 1973 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Holden Sunbird.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Holden Sunbird | 1973 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Holden | Mercury |
| Model | Sunbird | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1973 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4143 cc | 7542 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 173 HP | 213 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 325 Nm | 498 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3400 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 1212 kg | 2105 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4500 mm | 5480 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 2010 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1340 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2910 mm |
