1971 Holden Monaro vs. 1978 Holden Sunbird
To start off, 1978 Holden Sunbird is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Holden Monaro. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Holden Monaro would be higher. At 5,733 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Holden Monaro is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Holden Monaro (271 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 175 more horse power than 1978 Holden Sunbird. (96 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Holden Monaro should accelerate faster than 1978 Holden Sunbird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Holden Monaro weights approximately 230 kg more than 1978 Holden Sunbird. 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 Holden Monaro (490 Nm @ 3200 RPM) has 333 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Holden Sunbird. (157 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1971 Holden Monaro will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Holden Sunbird.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Holden Monaro | 1978 Holden Sunbird | |
| Make | Holden | Holden |
| Model | Monaro | Sunbird |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5733 cc | 1897 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 271 HP | 96 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 490 Nm | 157 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3200 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1390 kg | 1160 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4770 mm | 4500 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1890 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1360 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2830 mm | 2590 mm |
