1970 Ford Capri vs. 1981 Pontiac Firebird
To start off, 1981 Pontiac Firebird is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Ford Capri. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Ford Capri would be higher. At 5,012 cc (8 cylinders), 1981 Pontiac Firebird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Pontiac Firebird (145 HP @ 3800 RPM) has 7 more horse power than 1970 Ford Capri. (138 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Pontiac Firebird should accelerate faster than 1970 Ford Capri. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Pontiac Firebird weights approximately 439 kg more than 1970 Ford Capri. 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, 1981 Pontiac Firebird (324 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 88 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Ford Capri. (236 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1981 Pontiac Firebird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Ford Capri.
Compare all specifications:
| 1970 Ford Capri | 1981 Pontiac Firebird | |
| Make | Ford | Pontiac |
| Model | Capri | Firebird |
| Year Released | 1970 | 1981 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2994 cc | 5012 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 145 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Torque | 236 Nm | 324 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 93.7 mm | 95 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 72.4 mm | 88.4 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.9:1 | 8.6:1 |
| Top Speed | 196 km/hour | 160 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1103 kg | 1542 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4290 mm | 5040 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1650 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1290 mm | 1260 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2570 mm | 2750 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 58 L | 79 L |
