1979 Ford Thunderbird vs. 1958 Toyota Crown
To start off, 1979 Ford Thunderbird is newer by 21 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1958 Toyota Crown. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1958 Toyota Crown would be higher. At 5,731 cc (8 cylinders), 1979 Ford Thunderbird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Ford Thunderbird (135 HP @ 3200 RPM) has 86 more horse power than 1958 Toyota Crown. (49 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1979 Ford Thunderbird should accelerate faster than 1958 Toyota Crown. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Ford Thunderbird weights approximately 563 kg more than 1958 Toyota Crown. 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, 1979 Ford Thunderbird (386 Nm @ 1400 RPM) has 278 more torque (in Nm) than 1958 Toyota Crown. (108 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 1979 Ford Thunderbird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1958 Toyota Crown. 1979 Ford Thunderbird has automatic transmission and 1958 Toyota Crown has manual transmission. 1958 Toyota Crown 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:
| 1979 Ford Thunderbird | 1958 Toyota Crown | |
| Make | Ford | Toyota |
| Model | Thunderbird | Crown |
| Year Released | 1979 | 1958 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5731 cc | 1453 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 135 HP | 49 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3200 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 386 Nm | 108 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1400 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1813 kg | 1250 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5520 mm | 4370 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2000 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1550 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2540 mm |
