1968 Buick Riviera vs. 1979 Ford Thunderbird

To start off, 1979 Ford Thunderbird is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1968 Buick Riviera. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1968 Buick Riviera 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 170 more horse power than 1979 Ford Thunderbird. (135 HP @ 3200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1968 Buick Riviera should accelerate faster than 1979 Ford Thunderbird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1968 Buick Riviera weights approximately 87 kg more than 1979 Ford Thunderbird. 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 259 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Ford Thunderbird. (386 Nm @ 1400 RPM). This means 1968 Buick Riviera will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Ford Thunderbird.

Compare all specifications:

1968 Buick Riviera 1979 Ford Thunderbird
Make Buick Ford
Model Riviera Thunderbird
Year Released 1968 1979
Engine Position Front Front
Engine Size 7050 cc 5731 cc
Engine Cylinders 8 cylinders 8 cylinders
Engine Type in-line V
Horse Power 305 HP 135 HP
Engine RPM 5000 RPM 3200 RPM
Torque 645 Nm 386 Nm
Torque RPM 3200 RPM 1400 RPM
Engine Bore Size 106.2 mm 101.6 mm
Engine Stroke Size 99.4 mm 88.8 mm
Top Speed 193 km/hour 170 km/hour
Drive Type Rear Rear
Transmission Type Automatic Automatic
Number of Seats 4 seats 5 seats
Number of Doors 2 doors 2 doors
Vehicle Weight 1900 kg 1813 kg
Vehicle Length 5370 mm 5520 mm
Vehicle Width 2020 mm 2000 mm
Vehicle Height 1370 mm 1350 mm
Wheelbase Size 3030 mm 2900 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 75 L 80 L


 

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