1961 Land Rover A 109 vs. 1978 Pontiac Grand Safari
To start off, 1978 Pontiac Grand Safari is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1961 Land Rover A 109. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1961 Land Rover A 109 would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Pontiac Grand Safari is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Pontiac Grand Safari (138 HP @ 3600 RPM) has 76 more horse power than 1961 Land Rover A 109. (62 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Pontiac Grand Safari should accelerate faster than 1961 Land Rover A 109. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Pontiac Grand Safari weights approximately 292 kg more than 1961 Land Rover A 109. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1961 Land Rover A 109 is four wheel drive (4WD), it will have significant more traction and grip than 1978 Pontiac Grand Safari. In wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1961 Land Rover A 109 will offer significantly more control. 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, 1978 Pontiac Grand Safari (319 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 181 more torque (in Nm) than 1961 Land Rover A 109. (138 Nm @ 1750 RPM). This means 1978 Pontiac Grand Safari will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1961 Land Rover A 109. 1978 Pontiac Grand Safari has automatic transmission and 1961 Land Rover A 109 has manual transmission. 1961 Land Rover A 109 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Pontiac Grand Safari will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1961 Land Rover A 109 | 1978 Pontiac Grand Safari | |
| Make | Land Rover | Pontiac |
| Model | A 109 | Grand Safari |
| Year Released | 1961 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2286 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 62 HP | 138 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 138 Nm | 319 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1750 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Diesel | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | 4WD | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1580 kg | 1872 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4450 mm | 5450 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1690 mm | 2020 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 2070 mm | 1460 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2780 mm | 2950 mm |
