1997 Caterham C21 vs. 1974 Mercury Comet
To start off, 1997 Caterham C21 is newer by 23 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Mercury Comet. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Mercury Comet would be higher. At 2,782 cc (6 cylinders), 1974 Mercury Comet is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 Caterham C21 (115 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 33 more horse power than 1974 Mercury Comet. (82 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1997 Caterham C21 should accelerate faster than 1974 Mercury Comet. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Mercury Comet weights approximately 570 kg more than 1997 Caterham C21.
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 Comet (178 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 33 more torque (in Nm) than 1997 Caterham C21. (145 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1974 Mercury Comet will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1997 Caterham C21.
Compare all specifications:
| 1997 Caterham C21 | 1974 Mercury Comet | |
| Make | Caterham | Mercury |
| Model | C21 | Comet |
| Year Released | 1997 | 1974 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1587 cc | 2782 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 115 HP | 82 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 145 Nm | 178 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 1800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 650 kg | 1220 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3810 mm | 4800 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1590 mm | 1800 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1060 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2260 mm | 2800 mm |
