1981 Ford Capri vs. 1974 Mercury Montego
To start off, 1981 Ford Capri is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Mercury Montego. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Mercury Montego would be higher. At 4,095 cc (6 cylinders), 1974 Mercury Montego is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Ford Capri (160 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 64 more horse power than 1974 Mercury Montego. (96 HP @ 3600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1981 Ford Capri should accelerate faster than 1974 Mercury Montego. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Mercury Montego weights approximately 505 kg more than 1981 Ford Capri.
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, 1974 Mercury Montego (248 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 28 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Ford Capri. (220 Nm @ 4200 RPM). This means 1974 Mercury Montego will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Ford Capri.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Ford Capri | 1974 Mercury Montego | |
| Make | Ford | Mercury |
| Model | Capri | Montego |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1974 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2790 cc | 4095 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 160 HP | 96 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 220 Nm | 248 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4200 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.2:1 | 8.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 6 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1190 kg | 1695 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4360 mm | 5300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 2010 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1300 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2450 mm | 3010 mm |
