1996 Ferrari 550 vs. 1976 Ford Thunderbird
To start off, 1996 Ferrari 550 is newer by 20 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 Ford Thunderbird. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 Ford Thunderbird would be higher. At 5,474 cc (12 cylinders), 1996 Ferrari 550 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Ferrari 550 (485 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 350 more horse power than 1976 Ford Thunderbird. (135 HP @ 3400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 Ferrari 550 should accelerate faster than 1976 Ford Thunderbird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 Ferrari 550 weights approximately 70 kg more than 1976 Ford Thunderbird. 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, 1996 Ferrari 550 (568 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 251 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Ford Thunderbird. (317 Nm @ 1600 RPM). This means 1996 Ferrari 550 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Ford Thunderbird. 1976 Ford Thunderbird has automatic transmission and 1996 Ferrari 550 has manual transmission. 1996 Ferrari 550 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1976 Ford Thunderbird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 Ferrari 550 | 1976 Ford Thunderbird | |
| Make | Ferrari | Ford |
| Model | 550 | Thunderbird |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5474 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 12 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Horse Power | 485 HP | 135 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7000 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Torque | 568 Nm | 317 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.8:1 | 8.4:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1690 kg | 1620 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4550 mm | 5100 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1940 mm | 1890 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1280 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2460 mm | 2760 mm |
