1971 Buick Riviera vs. 1981 Ferrari 512 BBi
To start off, 1981 Ferrari 512 BBi is newer by 10 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, 1981 Ferrari 512 BBi (340 HP @ 6300 RPM) has 29 more horse power than 1971 Buick Riviera. (311 HP @ 4200 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Ferrari 512 BBi should accelerate faster than 1971 Buick Riviera. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Buick Riviera weights approximately 541 kg more than 1981 Ferrari 512 BBi.
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 166 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Ferrari 512 BBi. (451 Nm @ 4200 RPM). This means 1971 Buick Riviera will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Ferrari 512 BBi. 1971 Buick Riviera has automatic transmission and 1981 Ferrari 512 BBi has manual transmission. 1981 Ferrari 512 BBi 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 | 1981 Ferrari 512 BBi | |
| Make | Buick | Ferrari |
| Model | Riviera | 512 BBi |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 7468 cc | 4942 cc |
| Horse Power | 311 HP | 340 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4200 RPM | 6300 RPM |
| Torque | 617 Nm | 451 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2600 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.3:1 | 9.2:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2040 kg | 1499 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5560 mm | 4410 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2040 mm | 1840 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1130 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3110 mm | 2510 mm |
