1971 Buick Riviera vs. 1974 Ford Capri
To start off, 1974 Ford Capri is newer by 3 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 214 more horse power than 1974 Ford Capri. (97 HP @ 5700 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Buick Riviera should accelerate faster than 1974 Ford Capri. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Buick Riviera weights approximately 1008 kg more than 1974 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, 1971 Buick Riviera (617 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 466 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Ford Capri. (151 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1971 Buick Riviera will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Ford Capri. 1971 Buick Riviera has automatic transmission and 1974 Ford Capri has manual transmission. 1974 Ford Capri 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 | 1974 Ford Capri | |
| Make | Buick | Ford |
| Model | Riviera | Capri |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1974 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Rear |
| Engine Size | 7468 cc | 1993 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 311 HP | 97 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4200 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 617 Nm | 151 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2600 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2040 kg | 1032 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5560 mm | 4300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2040 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3110 mm | 2570 mm |
