1971 Buick Riviera vs. 1977 Chevrolet Corvette
To start off, 1977 Chevrolet Corvette is newer by 6 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) has 104 more horse power than 1977 Chevrolet Corvette. (207 HP). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Buick Riviera should accelerate faster than 1977 Chevrolet Corvette. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Buick Riviera weights approximately 476 kg more than 1977 Chevrolet Corvette. 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) has 271 more torque (in Nm) than 1977 Chevrolet Corvette. (346 Nm). This means 1971 Buick Riviera will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1977 Chevrolet Corvette. 1971 Buick Riviera has automatic transmission and 1977 Chevrolet Corvette has manual transmission. 1977 Chevrolet Corvette 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 | 1977 Chevrolet Corvette | |
| Make | Buick | Chevrolet |
| Model | Riviera | Corvette |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1977 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 7468 cc | 5765 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Horse Power | 311 HP | 207 HP |
| Torque | 617 Nm | 346 Nm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.3:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2040 kg | 1564 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5560 mm | 4710 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2040 mm | 1760 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1230 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3110 mm | 2500 mm |
