2001 AC Cobra vs. 1966 Mercury Cyclone
To start off, 2001 AC Cobra is newer by 35 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1966 Mercury Cyclone. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1966 Mercury Cyclone would be higher. At 6,393 cc (8 cylinders), 1966 Mercury Cyclone is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2001 AC Cobra (350 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 15 more horse power than 1966 Mercury Cyclone. (335 HP @ 4800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2001 AC Cobra should accelerate faster than 1966 Mercury Cyclone. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1966 Mercury Cyclone weights approximately 572 kg more than 2001 AC Cobra.
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, 1966 Mercury Cyclone (579 Nm @ 3200 RPM) has 179 more torque (in Nm) than 2001 AC Cobra. (400 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1966 Mercury Cyclone will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2001 AC Cobra. 1966 Mercury Cyclone has automatic transmission and 2001 AC Cobra has manual transmission. 2001 AC Cobra will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1966 Mercury Cyclone will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2001 AC Cobra | 1966 Mercury Cyclone | |
| Make | AC | Mercury |
| Model | Cobra | Cyclone |
| Year Released | 2001 | 1966 |
| Body Type | Roadster | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3506 cc | 6393 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Horse Power | 350 HP | 335 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Torque | 400 Nm | 579 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 83 mm | 103 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 81 mm | 96 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 10.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1060 kg | 1632 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4210 mm | 4980 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1750 mm | 1880 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1210 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2300 mm | 2950 mm |
