1976 Buick Riviera vs. 1971 Ford Zephyr
To start off, 1976 Buick Riviera is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Ford Zephyr. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Ford Zephyr would be higher. At 5,724 cc (6 cylinders), 1976 Buick Riviera is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Buick Riviera (154 HP @ 3400 RPM) has 73 more horse power than 1971 Ford Zephyr. (81 HP @ 4750 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1976 Buick Riviera should accelerate faster than 1971 Ford Zephyr. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Buick Riviera weights approximately 515 kg more than 1971 Ford Zephyr. 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, 1976 Buick Riviera (380 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 227 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Ford Zephyr. (153 Nm @ 2750 RPM). This means 1976 Buick Riviera will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Ford Zephyr.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Buick Riviera | 1971 Ford Zephyr | |
| Make | Buick | Ford |
| Model | Riviera | Zephyr |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1971 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5724 cc | 1996 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 154 HP | 81 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3400 RPM | 4750 RPM |
| Torque | 380 Nm | 153 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1800 RPM | 2750 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1765 kg | 1250 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5550 mm | 4710 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1970 mm | 1820 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1410 mm | 1490 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2950 mm | 2930 mm |
