1971 Buick Riviera vs. 1959 Ford Prefect
To start off, 1971 Buick Riviera is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Ford Prefect. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Ford Prefect would be higher. At 7,468 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Buick Riviera is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Buick Riviera (311 HP @ 4200 RPM) has 273 more horse power than 1959 Ford Prefect. (38 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Buick Riviera should accelerate faster than 1959 Ford Prefect. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Buick Riviera weights approximately 1240 kg more than 1959 Ford Prefect. 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, 1971 Buick Riviera (617 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 545 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Ford Prefect. (72 Nm @ 2700 RPM). This means 1971 Buick Riviera will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Ford Prefect. 1971 Buick Riviera has automatic transmission and 1959 Ford Prefect has manual transmission. 1959 Ford Prefect 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:
| 1971 Buick Riviera | 1959 Ford Prefect | |
| Make | Buick | Ford |
| Model | Riviera | Prefect |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1959 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 7468 cc | 996 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 311 HP | 38 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4200 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 617 Nm | 72 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2600 RPM | 2700 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.3:1 | 8.9:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2040 kg | 800 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5560 mm | 3810 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2040 mm | 1550 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1520 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3110 mm | 2220 mm |
