1950 Austin A 40 vs. 1980 Triumph Spitfire
To start off, 1980 Triumph Spitfire 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 1,493 cc (4 cylinders), 1980 Triumph Spitfire is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Triumph Spitfire (71 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 22 more horse power than 1950 Austin A 40. (49 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Triumph Spitfire 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 151 kg more than 1980 Triumph Spitfire.
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, 1980 Triumph Spitfire (111 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 27 more torque (in Nm) than 1950 Austin A 40. (84 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1980 Triumph Spitfire 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 | 1980 Triumph Spitfire | |
| Make | Austin | Triumph |
| Model | A 40 | Spitfire |
| Year Released | 1950 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1200 cc | 1493 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 49 HP | 71 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 84 Nm | 111 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 7.2:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 966 kg | 815 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4060 mm | 3740 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1560 mm | 1450 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1470 mm | 1210 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2360 mm | 2110 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 34 L | 33 L |
