1979 Fiat 126 vs. 1973 Mercury Montego
To start off, 1979 Fiat 126 is newer by 6 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 4,095 cc (6 cylinders), 1973 Mercury Montego is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1973 Mercury Montego (96 HP @ 3600 RPM) has 72 more horse power than 1979 Fiat 126. (24 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1973 Mercury Montego should accelerate faster than 1979 Fiat 126. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Mercury Montego weights approximately 1110 kg more than 1979 Fiat 126. 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 Montego (248 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 206 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Fiat 126. (42 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1973 Mercury Montego will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Fiat 126.
Compare all specifications:
| 1979 Fiat 126 | 1973 Mercury Montego | |
| Make | Fiat | Mercury |
| Model | 126 | Montego |
| Year Released | 1979 | 1973 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 652 cc | 4095 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 2 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 24 HP | 96 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 42 Nm | 248 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 93.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 70 mm | 99.3 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 6 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 585 kg | 1695 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3130 mm | 5300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1390 mm | 2010 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1340 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 1850 mm | 3010 mm |
