1995 Caterham 21 vs. 1972 Mercury Comet
To start off, 1995 Caterham 21 is newer by 23 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1972 Mercury Comet. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1972 Mercury Comet would be higher. At 2,780 cc (6 cylinders), 1972 Mercury Comet is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1995 Caterham 21 (138 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 56 more horse power than 1972 Mercury Comet. (82 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1995 Caterham 21 should accelerate faster than 1972 Mercury Comet. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1972 Mercury Comet weights approximately 572 kg more than 1995 Caterham 21.
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, 1972 Mercury Comet (178 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 22 more torque (in Nm) than 1995 Caterham 21. (156 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1972 Mercury Comet will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1995 Caterham 21.
Compare all specifications:
| 1995 Caterham 21 | 1972 Mercury Comet | |
| Make | Caterham | Mercury |
| Model | 21 | Comet |
| Year Released | 1995 | 1972 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1588 cc | 2780 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 82 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7000 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 156 Nm | 178 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 1800 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 648 kg | 1220 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3810 mm | 4800 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1590 mm | 1800 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1070 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2260 mm | 2800 mm |
