2009 Ford Shelby GT 500 vs. 1971 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 2009 Ford Shelby GT 500 is newer by 38 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 5,769 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2009 Ford Shelby GT 500 (493 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 326 more horse power than 1971 Mercury Cougar. (167 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2009 Ford Shelby GT 500 should accelerate faster than 1971 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 534 kg more than 2009 Ford Shelby GT 500.
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, 2009 Ford Shelby GT 500 (480 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 117 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Mercury Cougar. (363 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 2009 Ford Shelby GT 500 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Mercury Cougar.
Compare all specifications:
2009 Ford Shelby GT 500 | 1971 Mercury Cougar | |
Make | Ford | Mercury |
Model | Shelby GT 500 | Cougar |
Year Released | 2009 | 1971 |
Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 5408 cc | 5769 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | V | in-line |
Horse Power | 493 HP | 167 HP |
Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Torque | 480 Nm | 363 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 2400 RPM |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1116 kg | 1650 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4770 mm | 5080 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1890 mm | 1920 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1310 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2730 mm | 2860 mm |