1950 Austin A 40 vs. 1980 Reliant Kitten
To start off, 1980 Reliant Kitten is newer by 30 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 1,200 cc (4 cylinders), 1950 Austin A 40 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Reliant Kitten (39 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 1 more horse power than 1950 Austin A 40. (38 HP @ 4300 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Reliant Kitten should accelerate faster than 1950 Austin A 40. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1950 Austin A 40 weights approximately 435 kg more than 1980 Reliant Kitten.
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, 1950 Austin A 40 (80 Nm @ 2300 RPM) has 17 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Reliant Kitten. (63 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1950 Austin A 40 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Reliant Kitten.
Compare all specifications:
| 1950 Austin A 40 | 1980 Reliant Kitten | |
| Make | Austin | Reliant |
| Model | A 40 | Kitten |
| Year Released | 1950 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1200 cc | 848 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 38 HP | 39 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4300 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 80 Nm | 63 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2300 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 970 kg | 535 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3890 mm | 3330 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1560 mm | 1430 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1620 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2360 mm | 2150 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 48 L | 27 L |
