1972 Buick Riviera vs. 1971 Lincoln Continental
To start off, 1972 Buick Riviera is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Lincoln Continental. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Lincoln Continental would be higher. At 7,542 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Lincoln Continental is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1972 Buick Riviera (250 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 33 more horse power than 1971 Lincoln Continental. (217 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1972 Buick Riviera should accelerate faster than 1971 Lincoln Continental. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Lincoln Continental weights approximately 290 kg more than 1972 Buick Riviera.
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, 1972 Buick Riviera (518 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 30 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Lincoln Continental. (488 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 1972 Buick Riviera will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Lincoln Continental.
Compare all specifications:
| 1972 Buick Riviera | 1971 Lincoln Continental | |
| Make | Buick | Lincoln |
| Model | Riviera | Continental |
| Year Released | 1972 | 1971 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 7468 cc | 7542 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Horse Power | 250 HP | 217 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 518 Nm | 488 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 2040 kg | 2330 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5550 mm | 5720 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2040 mm | 2020 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1420 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3110 mm | 3230 mm |
