1950 Austin A 40 vs. 1988 Volvo 740
To start off, 1988 Volvo 740 is newer by 38 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 1,985 cc (4 cylinders), 1988 Volvo 740 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Volvo 740 (156 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 107 more horse power than 1950 Austin A 40. (49 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1988 Volvo 740 should accelerate faster than 1950 Austin A 40. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 Volvo 740 weights approximately 364 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, 1988 Volvo 740 (239 Nm @ 2500 RPM) has 155 more torque (in Nm) than 1950 Austin A 40. (84 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1988 Volvo 740 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 | 1988 Volvo 740 | |
| Make | Austin | Volvo |
| Model | A 40 | 740 |
| Year Released | 1950 | 1988 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1200 cc | 1985 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 49 HP | 156 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 84 Nm | 239 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 65.5 mm | 88.9 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 89 mm | 80 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 966 kg | 1330 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4060 mm | 4790 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1560 mm | 1760 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1470 mm | 1420 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2360 mm | 2780 mm |
