1968 Buick Riviera vs. 1963 Ford Zodiac
To start off, 1968 Buick Riviera is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1963 Ford Zodiac. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1963 Ford Zodiac would be higher. At 7,050 cc (8 cylinders), 1968 Buick Riviera is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1968 Buick Riviera (305 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 197 more horse power than 1963 Ford Zodiac. (108 HP @ 4750 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1968 Buick Riviera should accelerate faster than 1963 Ford Zodiac. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1968 Buick Riviera weights approximately 630 kg more than 1963 Ford Zodiac. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
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, 1968 Buick Riviera (645 Nm @ 3200 RPM) has 454 more torque (in Nm) than 1963 Ford Zodiac. (191 Nm @ 2900 RPM). This means 1968 Buick Riviera will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1963 Ford Zodiac. 1968 Buick Riviera has automatic transmission and 1963 Ford Zodiac has manual transmission. 1963 Ford Zodiac will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1968 Buick Riviera will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1968 Buick Riviera | 1963 Ford Zodiac | |
| Make | Buick | Ford |
| Model | Riviera | Zodiac |
| Year Released | 1968 | 1963 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 7050 cc | 2553 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 305 HP | 108 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 4750 RPM |
| Torque | 645 Nm | 191 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3200 RPM | 2900 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 106.2 mm | 82.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 99.4 mm | 79.5 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Top Speed | 193 km/hour | 161 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1900 kg | 1270 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5370 mm | 4650 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2020 mm | 1770 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1450 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3030 mm | 2780 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 75 L | 45 L |
