1988 Ford Thunderbird vs. 1979 Lancia Beta
To start off, 1988 Ford Thunderbird is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1979 Lancia Beta. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1979 Lancia Beta 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 22 more horse power than 1979 Lancia Beta. (118 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 Ford Thunderbird should accelerate faster than 1979 Lancia Beta. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 Ford Thunderbird weights approximately 566 kg more than 1979 Lancia Beta. 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 121 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Lancia Beta. (171 Nm @ 3400 RPM). This means 1988 Ford Thunderbird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Lancia Beta. 1988 Ford Thunderbird has automatic transmission and 1979 Lancia Beta has manual transmission. 1979 Lancia Beta 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 | 1979 Lancia Beta | |
| Make | Ford | Lancia |
| Model | Thunderbird | Beta |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 3797 cc | 1994 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 140 HP | 118 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 292 Nm | 171 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 96.8 mm | 84 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 86 mm | 90 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Top Speed | 185 km/hour | 192 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1606 kg | 1040 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5050 mm | 3820 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1850 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2880 mm | 2360 mm |
