1976 Lancia Beta vs. 1972 Mercury Comet
To start off, 1976 Lancia Beta is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1972 Mercury Comet. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1972 Mercury Comet would be higher. At 2,780 cc (6 cylinders), 1972 Mercury Comet is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Lancia Beta (118 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 36 more horse power than 1972 Mercury Comet. (82 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1976 Lancia Beta should accelerate faster than 1972 Mercury Comet. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1972 Mercury Comet weights approximately 180 kg more than 1976 Lancia Beta.
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, 1972 Mercury Comet (178 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 13 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Lancia Beta. (165 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1972 Mercury Comet will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Lancia Beta.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Lancia Beta | 1972 Mercury Comet | |
| Make | Lancia | Mercury |
| Model | Beta | Comet |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1972 |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 1999 cc | 2780 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 118 HP | 82 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 165 Nm | 178 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 1800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1040 kg | 1220 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3820 mm | 4800 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1800 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2340 mm | 2800 mm |
