1979 Mazda 121 vs. 1973 Mercury Montego
To start off, 1979 Mazda 121 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 6,555 cc (8 cylinders), 1973 Mercury Montego is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1973 Mercury Montego (169 HP @ 4200 RPM) has 79 more horse power than 1979 Mazda 121. (90 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1973 Mercury Montego should accelerate faster than 1979 Mazda 121. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Mercury Montego weights approximately 657 kg more than 1979 Mazda 121. 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 (403 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 243 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Mazda 121. (160 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1973 Mercury Montego will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Mazda 121.
Compare all specifications:
| 1979 Mazda 121 | 1973 Mercury Montego | |
| Make | Mazda | Mercury |
| Model | 121 | Montego |
| Year Released | 1979 | 1973 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1970 cc | 6555 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 90 HP | 169 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Torque | 160 Nm | 403 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 98 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.6:1 | 8.4:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1134 kg | 1791 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4510 mm | 5290 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1690 mm | 2000 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1320 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2520 mm | 2900 mm |
