1988 Ford Thunderbird vs. 1976 Vauxhall Chevette
To start off, 1988 Ford Thunderbird is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 Vauxhall Chevette. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 Vauxhall Chevette would be higher. At 3,797 cc (6 cylinders), 1988 Ford Thunderbird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Ford Thunderbird (140 HP @ 3800 RPM) has 84 more horse power than 1976 Vauxhall Chevette. (56 HP @ 5600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 Ford Thunderbird should accelerate faster than 1976 Vauxhall Chevette. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 Ford Thunderbird weights approximately 751 kg more than 1976 Vauxhall Chevette. 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, 1988 Ford Thunderbird (292 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 203 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Vauxhall Chevette. (89 Nm @ 2600 RPM). This means 1988 Ford Thunderbird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Vauxhall Chevette. 1988 Ford Thunderbird has automatic transmission and 1976 Vauxhall Chevette has manual transmission. 1976 Vauxhall Chevette will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1988 Ford Thunderbird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 Ford Thunderbird | 1976 Vauxhall Chevette | |
| Make | Ford | Vauxhall |
| Model | Thunderbird | Chevette |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3797 cc | 1256 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 140 HP | 56 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 292 Nm | 89 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 8.7:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1606 kg | 855 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5050 mm | 3980 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1850 mm | 1580 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1320 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2880 mm | 2400 mm |
