1950 Austin A 40 vs. 1978 Mazda 121
To start off, 1978 Mazda 121 is newer by 28 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1950 Austin A 40. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1950 Austin A 40 would be higher. At 1,970 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Mazda 121 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Mazda 121 (86 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 48 more horse power than 1950 Austin A 40. (38 HP @ 4300 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Mazda 121 should accelerate faster than 1950 Austin A 40. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mazda 121 weights approximately 160 kg more than 1950 Austin A 40. 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, 1978 Mazda 121 (160 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 80 more torque (in Nm) than 1950 Austin A 40. (80 Nm @ 2300 RPM). This means 1978 Mazda 121 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1950 Austin A 40.
Compare all specifications:
| 1950 Austin A 40 | 1978 Mazda 121 | |
| Make | Austin | Mazda |
| Model | A 40 | 121 |
| Year Released | 1950 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1200 cc | 1970 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 38 HP | 86 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4300 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Torque | 80 Nm | 160 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2300 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 970 kg | 1130 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3890 mm | 4510 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1560 mm | 1690 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1620 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2360 mm | 2520 mm |
