1966 AC Cobra vs. 1971 Buick Riviera
To start off, 1971 Buick Riviera is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1966 AC Cobra. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1966 AC Cobra would be higher. At 7,468 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Buick Riviera is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1966 AC Cobra (410 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 99 more horse power than 1971 Buick Riviera. (311 HP @ 4200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1966 AC Cobra should accelerate faster than 1971 Buick Riviera. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Buick Riviera weights approximately 893 kg more than 1966 AC Cobra.
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, 1966 AC Cobra (651 Nm @ 3700 RPM) has 34 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Buick Riviera. (617 Nm @ 2600 RPM). This means 1966 AC Cobra will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Buick Riviera. 1971 Buick Riviera has automatic transmission and 1966 AC Cobra has manual transmission. 1966 AC Cobra will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1971 Buick Riviera will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1966 AC Cobra | 1971 Buick Riviera | |
| Make | AC | Buick |
| Model | Cobra | Riviera |
| Year Released | 1966 | 1971 |
| Body Type | Roadster | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 6997 cc | 7468 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Horse Power | 410 HP | 311 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Torque | 651 Nm | 617 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3700 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 11.5:1 | 8.3:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1147 kg | 2040 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3970 mm | 5560 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 2040 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1250 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2290 mm | 3110 mm |
