1949 Austin A 40 vs. 1970 Opel Manta
To start off, 1970 Opel Manta is newer by 21 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1949 Austin A 40. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1949 Austin A 40 would be higher. At 1,584 cc (4 cylinders), 1970 Opel Manta is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1970 Opel Manta (67 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 29 more horse power than 1949 Austin A 40. (38 HP @ 4300 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1970 Opel Manta should accelerate faster than 1949 Austin A 40. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1949 Austin A 40 weights approximately 25 kg more than 1970 Opel Manta.
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, 1970 Opel Manta (108 Nm @ 3400 RPM) has 28 more torque (in Nm) than 1949 Austin A 40. (80 Nm @ 2300 RPM). This means 1970 Opel Manta will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1949 Austin A 40.
Compare all specifications:
| 1949 Austin A 40 | 1970 Opel Manta | |
| Make | Austin | Opel |
| Model | A 40 | Manta |
| Year Released | 1949 | 1970 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1198 cc | 1584 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 38 HP | 67 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4300 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 80 Nm | 108 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2300 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 65.5 mm | 85.1 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 89 mm | 69.8 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 970 kg | 945 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3890 mm | 4300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1560 mm | 1640 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1620 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2360 mm | 2440 mm |
