1987 Ford Thunderbird vs. 1974 Mercury Monterey
To start off, 1987 Ford Thunderbird is newer by 13 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, 1987 Ford Thunderbird (193 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 30 more horse power than 1974 Mercury Monterey. (163 HP @ 3800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1987 Ford Thunderbird should accelerate faster than 1974 Mercury Monterey. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Mercury Monterey weights approximately 994 kg more than 1987 Ford Thunderbird.
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) has 292 more torque (in Nm) than 1987 Ford Thunderbird. (91 Nm). This means 1974 Mercury Monterey will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1987 Ford Thunderbird.
Compare all specifications:
| 1987 Ford Thunderbird | 1974 Mercury Monterey | |
| Make | Ford | Mercury |
| Model | Thunderbird | Monterey |
| Year Released | 1987 | 1974 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2301 cc | 5769 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 193 HP | 163 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 383 Nm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 936 kg | 1930 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5030 mm | 5720 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 2030 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1360 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2650 mm | 3160 mm |
