1978 Ford Crown Victoria vs. 1971 Pontiac Firebird
To start off, 1978 Ford Crown Victoria is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Pontiac Firebird. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Pontiac Firebird would be higher. At 5,792 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Pontiac Firebird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Pontiac Firebird (158 HP @ 4400 RPM) has 29 more horse power than 1978 Ford Crown Victoria. (129 HP @ 3600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1971 Pontiac Firebird should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Crown Victoria. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Ford Crown Victoria weights approximately 59 kg more than 1971 Pontiac Firebird.
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 Pontiac Firebird (366 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 64 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Crown Victoria. (302 Nm @ 2600 RPM). This means 1971 Pontiac Firebird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Crown Victoria.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Ford Crown Victoria | 1971 Pontiac Firebird | |
| Make | Ford | Pontiac |
| Model | Crown Victoria | Firebird |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1971 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4942 cc | 5792 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 129 HP | 158 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3600 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 302 Nm | 366 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2600 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1644 kg | 1585 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5320 mm | 4880 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1980 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1290 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2750 mm |
