1997 Chevrolet Express vs. 1978 Ford Crown Victoria
To start off, 1997 Chevrolet Express is newer by 19 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Ford Crown Victoria. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Ford Crown Victoria would be higher. At 4,997 cc (8 cylinders), 1997 Chevrolet Express is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 Chevrolet Express (217 HP @ 4600 RPM) has 88 more horse power than 1978 Ford Crown Victoria. (129 HP @ 3600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1997 Chevrolet Express should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Crown Victoria. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1997 Chevrolet Express weights approximately 720 kg more than 1978 Ford Crown Victoria. 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, 1997 Chevrolet Express (379 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 77 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Crown Victoria. (302 Nm @ 2600 RPM). This means 1997 Chevrolet Express will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Crown Victoria.
Compare all specifications:
| 1997 Chevrolet Express | 1978 Ford Crown Victoria | |
| Make | Chevrolet | Ford |
| Model | Express | Crown Victoria |
| Year Released | 1997 | 1978 |
| Body Type | Van | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4997 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 217 HP | 129 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4600 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 379 Nm | 302 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 2364 kg | 1644 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5560 mm | 5320 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2020 mm | 1980 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 2030 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3440 mm | 2910 mm |
