1978 Mercury Cougar vs. 1963 Opel Rekord
To start off, 1978 Mercury Cougar is newer by 15 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1963 Opel Rekord. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1963 Opel Rekord would be higher. At 4,941 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Mercury Cougar (133 HP @ 3400 RPM) has 74 more horse power than 1963 Opel Rekord. (59 HP @ 4300 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1963 Opel Rekord. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 885 kg more than 1963 Opel Rekord. 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, 1978 Mercury Cougar (336 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 214 more torque (in Nm) than 1963 Opel Rekord. (122 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1978 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1963 Opel Rekord.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Mercury Cougar | 1963 Opel Rekord | |
| Make | Mercury | Opel |
| Model | Cougar | Rekord |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1963 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4941 cc | 1680 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 133 HP | 59 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3400 RPM | 4300 RPM |
| Torque | 336 Nm | 122 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1600 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 1855 kg | 970 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5480 mm | 4520 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2010 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1340 mm | 1470 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2650 mm |
