1981 Mercury Grand Marquis vs. 1974 Mercury Monterey
To start off, 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Mercury Monterey. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Mercury Monterey would be higher. At 5,769 cc (8 cylinders), 1974 Mercury Monterey is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1974 Mercury Monterey (163 HP @ 3800 RPM) has 45 more horse power than 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis. (118 HP @ 3800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1974 Mercury Monterey should accelerate faster than 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Mercury Monterey weights approximately 250 kg more than 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis. 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, 1974 Mercury Monterey (383 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 121 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis. (262 Nm @ 2200 RPM). This means 1974 Mercury Monterey will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis | 1974 Mercury Monterey | |
| Make | Mercury | Mercury |
| Model | Grand Marquis | Monterey |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1974 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4186 cc | 5769 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Horse Power | 118 HP | 163 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Torque | 262 Nm | 383 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 1680 kg | 1930 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5400 mm | 5720 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1980 mm | 2030 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 3160 mm |
