1976 Alpine A 310 vs. 1979 Ford Thunderbird
To start off, 1979 Ford Thunderbird is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 Alpine A 310. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 Alpine A 310 would be higher. At 5,731 cc (8 cylinders), 1979 Ford Thunderbird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Alpine A 310 (148 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 13 more horse power than 1979 Ford Thunderbird. (135 HP @ 3200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1976 Alpine A 310 should accelerate faster than 1979 Ford Thunderbird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Ford Thunderbird weights approximately 833 kg more than 1976 Alpine A 310.
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 Ford Thunderbird (386 Nm @ 1400 RPM) has 177 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Alpine A 310. (209 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1979 Ford Thunderbird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Alpine A 310. 1979 Ford Thunderbird has automatic transmission and 1976 Alpine A 310 has manual transmission. 1976 Alpine A 310 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1979 Ford Thunderbird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Alpine A 310 | 1979 Ford Thunderbird | |
| Make | Alpine | Ford |
| Model | A 310 | Thunderbird |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 2664 cc | 5731 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Horse Power | 148 HP | 135 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 3200 RPM |
| Torque | 209 Nm | 386 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 1400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 88 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 73 mm | 88.8 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 980 kg | 1813 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4190 mm | 5520 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1650 mm | 2000 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1160 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2280 mm | 2900 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 38 L | 80 L |
