1964 Austin Princess vs. 1979 Pontiac Firebird
To start off, 1979 Pontiac Firebird is newer by 15 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), 1979 Pontiac Firebird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Pontiac Firebird (200 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 81 more horse power than 1964 Austin Princess. (119 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1979 Pontiac Firebird should accelerate faster than 1964 Austin Princess. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1964 Austin Princess weights approximately 555 kg more than 1979 Pontiac Firebird.
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, 1979 Pontiac Firebird (459 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 208 more torque (in Nm) than 1964 Austin Princess. (251 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1979 Pontiac Firebird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1964 Austin Princess. 1979 Pontiac Firebird 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. 1979 Pontiac Firebird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1964 Austin Princess | 1979 Pontiac Firebird | |
| Make | Austin | Pontiac |
| Model | Princess | Firebird |
| Year Released | 1964 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3993 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 119 HP | 200 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 251 Nm | 459 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.5:1 | 7.5:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2180 kg | 1625 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5470 mm | 5010 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1900 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1780 mm | 1260 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3360 mm | 2750 mm |
