1971 Chevrolet Corvette vs. 1980 Reliant Scimitar
To start off, 1980 Reliant Scimitar is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Chevrolet Corvette. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Chevrolet Corvette would be higher. At 5,733 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Chevrolet Corvette is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Chevrolet Corvette (330 HP @ 5600 RPM) has 197 more horse power than 1980 Reliant Scimitar. (133 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Chevrolet Corvette should accelerate faster than 1980 Reliant Scimitar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Chevrolet Corvette weights approximately 264 kg more than 1980 Reliant Scimitar. 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 Chevrolet Corvette (488 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 282 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Reliant Scimitar. (206 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1971 Chevrolet Corvette will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Reliant Scimitar. 1980 Reliant Scimitar has automatic transmission and 1971 Chevrolet Corvette has manual transmission. 1971 Chevrolet Corvette will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1980 Reliant Scimitar will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Chevrolet Corvette | 1980 Reliant Scimitar | |
| Make | Chevrolet | Reliant |
| Model | Corvette | Scimitar |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1980 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5733 cc | 2790 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 330 HP | 133 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5600 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 488 Nm | 206 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 101.7 mm | 93 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 88.4 mm | 68.5 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.2:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1529 kg | 1265 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4640 mm | 4450 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1720 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1220 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2500 mm | 2640 mm |
