1971 Buick Riviera vs. 1972 Ford GT 40
To start off, 1972 Ford GT 40 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, 1972 Ford GT 40 (350 HP @ 7200 RPM) has 39 more horse power than 1971 Buick Riviera. (311 HP @ 4200 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1972 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 1972 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, 1971 Buick Riviera (617 Nm) has 532 more torque (in Nm) than 1972 Ford GT 40. (85 Nm). This means 1971 Buick Riviera will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1972 Ford GT 40. 1971 Buick Riviera has automatic transmission and 1972 Ford GT 40 has manual transmission. 1972 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 | 1972 Ford GT 40 | |
| Make | Buick | Ford |
| Model | Riviera | GT 40 |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1972 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 7468 cc | 4195 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Horse Power | 311 HP | 350 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4200 RPM | 7200 RPM |
| Torque | 617 Nm | 85 Nm |
| 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 |
