1971 Ford GT 70 vs. 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari
To start off, 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Ford GT 70. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Ford GT 70 would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari (149 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 64 more horse power than 1971 Ford GT 70. (85 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari should accelerate faster than 1971 Ford GT 70. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari weights approximately 1035 kg more than 1971 Ford GT 70. 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, 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari (325 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 200 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Ford GT 70. (125 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Ford GT 70. 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari has automatic transmission and 1971 Ford GT 70 has manual transmission. 1971 Ford GT 70 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Ford GT 70 | 1981 Pontiac Grand Safari | |
| Make | Ford | Pontiac |
| Model | GT 70 | Grand Safari |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 1599 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 85 HP | 149 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 125 Nm | 325 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 93.7 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 72.4 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 765 kg | 1800 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3890 mm | 5450 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 2020 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1460 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2330 mm | 2950 mm |
