1956 Ford Thunderbird vs. 1981 Toyota Celica

To start off, 1981 Toyota Celica is newer by 25 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1956 Ford Thunderbird. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1956 Ford Thunderbird would be higher. At 5,112 cc (8 cylinders), 1956 Ford Thunderbird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1956 Ford Thunderbird (223 HP @ 4600 RPM) has 109 more horse power than 1981 Toyota Celica. (114 HP @ 4800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1956 Ford Thunderbird should accelerate faster than 1981 Toyota Celica. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1956 Ford Thunderbird weights approximately 210 kg more than 1981 Toyota Celica. 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. 1981 Toyota Celica has automatic transmission and 1956 Ford Thunderbird has manual transmission. 1956 Ford Thunderbird will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Toyota Celica will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.

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