1981 Ford Cortina vs. 1951 Mercury Roadster

To start off, 1981 Ford Cortina is newer by 30 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1951 Mercury Roadster. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1951 Mercury Roadster would be higher. At 3,990 cc (8 cylinders), 1951 Mercury Roadster is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1951 Mercury Roadster (108 HP @ 3800 RPM) has 49 more horse power than 1981 Ford Cortina. (59 HP @ 5750 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1951 Mercury Roadster should accelerate faster than 1981 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1951 Mercury Roadster weights approximately 550 kg more than 1981 Ford Cortina. 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. 1951 Mercury Roadster has automatic transmission and 1981 Ford Cortina has manual transmission. 1981 Ford Cortina will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1951 Mercury Roadster will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.

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