1964 Austin Princess vs. 1976 Ford Thunderbird
To start off, 1976 Ford Thunderbird is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1964 Austin Princess. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1964 Austin Princess would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1976 Ford Thunderbird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Ford Thunderbird (135 HP @ 3400 RPM) has 16 more horse power than 1964 Austin Princess. (119 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1976 Ford Thunderbird should accelerate faster than 1964 Austin Princess. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1964 Austin Princess weights approximately 560 kg more than 1976 Ford Thunderbird.
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, 1976 Ford Thunderbird (317 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 66 more torque (in Nm) than 1964 Austin Princess. (251 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1976 Ford Thunderbird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1964 Austin Princess. 1976 Ford Thunderbird has automatic transmission and 1964 Austin Princess has manual transmission. 1964 Austin Princess will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1976 Ford Thunderbird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1964 Austin Princess | 1976 Ford Thunderbird | |
| Make | Austin | Ford |
| Model | Princess | Thunderbird |
| Year Released | 1964 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3993 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 119 HP | 135 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Torque | 251 Nm | 317 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.5:1 | 8.4:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2180 kg | 1620 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5470 mm | 5100 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1900 mm | 1890 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1780 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3360 mm | 2760 mm |
