2004 Caterham 7 vs. 1971 Mercury Comet
To start off, 2004 Caterham 7 is newer by 33 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Mercury Comet. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Mercury Comet would be higher. At 2,782 cc (6 cylinders), 1971 Mercury Comet is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2004 Caterham 7 (251 HP @ 8000 RPM) has 170 more horse power than 1971 Mercury Comet. (81 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2004 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1971 Mercury Comet. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Mercury Comet weights approximately 750 kg more than 2004 Caterham 7.
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, 2004 Caterham 7 (258 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 83 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Mercury Comet. (175 Nm @ 1800 RPM). This means 2004 Caterham 7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Mercury Comet.
Compare all specifications:
| 2004 Caterham 7 | 1971 Mercury Comet | |
| Make | Caterham | Mercury |
| Model | 7 | Comet |
| Year Released | 2004 | 1971 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1997 cc | 2782 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 251 HP | 81 HP |
| Engine RPM | 8000 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 258 Nm | 175 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 1800 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 470 kg | 1220 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3110 mm | 4620 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1800 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 810 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2230 mm | 2630 mm |
