1962 Chevrolet Corvette vs. 1978 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight
To start off, 1978 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight is newer by 16 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1962 Chevrolet Corvette. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1962 Chevrolet Corvette would be higher. At 5,736 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1962 Chevrolet Corvette (251 HP @ 4400 RPM) has 83 more horse power than 1978 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight. (168 HP @ 3800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1962 Chevrolet Corvette should accelerate faster than 1978 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight weights approximately 475 kg more than 1962 Chevrolet Corvette.
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, 1962 Chevrolet Corvette (475 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 102 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight. (373 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1962 Chevrolet Corvette will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight. 1978 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight has automatic transmission and 1962 Chevrolet Corvette has manual transmission. 1962 Chevrolet Corvette will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1962 Chevrolet Corvette | 1978 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight | |
| Make | Chevrolet | Oldsmobile |
| Model | Corvette | Ninety-Eight |
| Year Released | 1962 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5354 cc | 5736 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Horse Power | 251 HP | 168 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Torque | 475 Nm | 373 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 101.6 mm | 103.1 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 82.6 mm | 85.9 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1315 kg | 1790 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4500 mm | 5610 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1780 mm | 1960 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1280 mm | 1420 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2600 mm | 3030 mm |
