1971 Holden Belmont vs. 1979 Pontiac Firebird
To start off, 1979 Pontiac Firebird is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Holden Belmont. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Holden Belmont would be higher. At 5,042 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Holden Belmont is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Holden Belmont (238 HP @ 4600 RPM) has 38 more horse power than 1979 Pontiac Firebird. (200 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Holden Belmont should accelerate faster than 1979 Pontiac Firebird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Pontiac Firebird weights approximately 245 kg more than 1971 Holden Belmont.
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, 1979 Pontiac Firebird (459 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 32 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Holden Belmont. (427 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1979 Pontiac Firebird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Holden Belmont. 1979 Pontiac Firebird has automatic transmission and 1971 Holden Belmont has manual transmission. 1971 Holden Belmont will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1979 Pontiac Firebird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Holden Belmont | 1979 Pontiac Firebird | |
| Make | Holden | Pontiac |
| Model | Belmont | Firebird |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5042 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 238 HP | 200 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4600 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 427 Nm | 459 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1380 kg | 1625 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4770 mm | 5010 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1890 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1260 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2830 mm | 2750 mm |
