1971 Buick Riviera vs. 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle
To start off, 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Buick Riviera. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Buick Riviera 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 201 more horse power than 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle. (110 HP @ 3800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Buick Riviera should accelerate faster than 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Buick Riviera weights approximately 557 kg more than 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle. 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 366 more torque (in Nm) than 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle. (251 Nm @ 1600 RPM). This means 1971 Buick Riviera will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle. 1971 Buick Riviera has automatic transmission and 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle has manual transmission. 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle 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 | 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle | |
| Make | Buick | Chevrolet |
| Model | Riviera | Chevelle |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1972 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 7468 cc | 4097 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 311 HP | 110 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4200 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Torque | 617 Nm | 251 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2600 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.3:1 | 8.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2040 kg | 1483 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5560 mm | 5020 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2040 mm | 1920 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3110 mm | 2850 mm |
