1971 Fiat 124 vs. 1982 Ford Thunderbird
To start off, 1982 Ford Thunderbird is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Fiat 124. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Fiat 124 would be higher. At 4,186 cc (8 cylinders), 1982 Ford Thunderbird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1982 Ford Thunderbird (111 HP) has 52 more horse power than 1971 Fiat 124. (59 HP) In normal driving conditions, 1982 Ford Thunderbird should accelerate faster than 1971 Fiat 124. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1982 Ford Thunderbird weights approximately 647 kg more than 1971 Fiat 124. 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, 1982 Ford Thunderbird (264 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 177 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Fiat 124. (87 Nm @ 3400 RPM). This means 1982 Ford Thunderbird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Fiat 124. 1982 Ford Thunderbird has automatic transmission and 1971 Fiat 124 has manual transmission. 1971 Fiat 124 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1982 Ford Thunderbird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Fiat 124 | 1982 Ford Thunderbird | |
| Make | Fiat | Ford |
| Model | 124 | Thunderbird |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1982 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1197 cc | 4186 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 59 HP | 111 HP |
| Torque | 87 Nm | 264 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3400 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 73 mm | 93.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 71.5 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.8:1 | 8.2:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 930 kg | 1577 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4040 mm | 5100 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1640 mm | 1890 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2450 mm | 2760 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 38 L | 80 L |
