1956 Ford Consul vs. 1997 Pontiac Firebird
To start off, 1997 Pontiac Firebird is newer by 41 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1956 Ford Consul. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1956 Ford Consul would be higher. At 3,785 cc (6 cylinders), 1997 Pontiac Firebird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 Pontiac Firebird (198 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 151 more horse power than 1956 Ford Consul. (47 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1997 Pontiac Firebird should accelerate faster than 1956 Ford Consul. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1997 Pontiac Firebird weights approximately 451 kg more than 1956 Ford Consul. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
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, 1997 Pontiac Firebird (305 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 181 more torque (in Nm) than 1956 Ford Consul. (124 Nm @ 2300 RPM). This means 1997 Pontiac Firebird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1956 Ford Consul.
Compare all specifications:
| 1956 Ford Consul | 1997 Pontiac Firebird | |
| Make | Ford | Pontiac |
| Model | Consul | Firebird |
| Year Released | 1956 | 1997 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1703 cc | 3785 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 47 HP | 198 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 124 Nm | 305 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2300 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82.6 mm | 96.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 79.5 mm | 86.4 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 7.8:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1089 kg | 1540 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4380 mm | 4920 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1750 mm | 1900 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1570 mm | 1320 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2660 mm | 2570 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 47 L | 76 L |
