1971 Buick Riviera vs. 1968 Ford GT 40
To start off, 1971 Buick Riviera is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1968 Ford GT 40. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1968 Ford GT 40 would be higher. At 7,468 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Buick Riviera is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1968 Ford GT 40 (424 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 113 more horse power than 1971 Buick Riviera. (311 HP @ 4200 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1968 Ford GT 40 should accelerate faster than 1971 Buick Riviera. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Buick Riviera weights approximately 1080 kg more than 1968 Ford GT 40.
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 Ford GT 40 (637 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 20 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Buick Riviera. (617 Nm @ 2600 RPM). This means 1968 Ford GT 40 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Buick Riviera. 1971 Buick Riviera has automatic transmission and 1968 Ford GT 40 has manual transmission. 1968 Ford GT 40 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 | 1968 Ford GT 40 | |
| Make | Buick | Ford |
| Model | Riviera | GT 40 |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1968 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 7468 cc | 4948 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Horse Power | 311 HP | 424 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4200 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 617 Nm | 637 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2600 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.3:1 | 10.5:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2040 kg | 960 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5560 mm | 4350 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2040 mm | 1800 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 980 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3110 mm | 2420 mm |
