1969 Chevrolet Corvette vs. 1979 Ford Thunderbird
To start off, 1979 Ford Thunderbird is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1969 Chevrolet Corvette. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1969 Chevrolet Corvette would be higher. At 5,733 cc (8 cylinders), 1969 Chevrolet Corvette is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1969 Chevrolet Corvette (345 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 210 more horse power than 1979 Ford Thunderbird. (135 HP @ 3200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1969 Chevrolet Corvette should accelerate faster than 1979 Ford Thunderbird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Ford Thunderbird weights approximately 411 kg more than 1969 Chevrolet Corvette.
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, 1969 Chevrolet Corvette (515 Nm @ 3200 RPM) has 129 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Ford Thunderbird. (386 Nm @ 1400 RPM). This means 1969 Chevrolet Corvette will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Ford Thunderbird. 1979 Ford Thunderbird has automatic transmission and 1969 Chevrolet Corvette has manual transmission. 1969 Chevrolet Corvette will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1979 Ford Thunderbird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1969 Chevrolet Corvette | 1979 Ford Thunderbird | |
| Make | Chevrolet | Ford |
| Model | Corvette | Thunderbird |
| Year Released | 1969 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5733 cc | 5731 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Horse Power | 345 HP | 135 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 3200 RPM |
| Torque | 515 Nm | 386 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3200 RPM | 1400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 101.6 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 88.4 mm | 88.8 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.2:1 | 8.3:1 |
| Top Speed | 200 km/hour | 170 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1402 kg | 1813 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4640 mm | 5520 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 2000 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1220 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2500 mm | 2900 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 76 L | 80 L |
