1950 Austin A 70 vs. 1980 Mercedes-Benz 280
To start off, 1980 Mercedes-Benz 280 is newer by 30 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1950 Austin A 70. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1950 Austin A 70 would be higher. At 2,746 cc (6 cylinders), 1980 Mercedes-Benz 280 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Mercedes-Benz 280 (182 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 116 more horse power than 1950 Austin A 70. (66 HP @ 3800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Mercedes-Benz 280 should accelerate faster than 1950 Austin A 70. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Mercedes-Benz 280 weights approximately 210 kg more than 1950 Austin A 70. 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, 1980 Mercedes-Benz 280 (233 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 75 more torque (in Nm) than 1950 Austin A 70. (158 Nm @ 1700 RPM). This means 1980 Mercedes-Benz 280 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1950 Austin A 70. 1980 Mercedes-Benz 280 has automatic transmission and 1950 Austin A 70 has manual transmission. 1950 Austin A 70 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1980 Mercedes-Benz 280 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1950 Austin A 70 | 1980 Mercedes-Benz 280 | |
| Make | Austin | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | A 70 | 280 |
| Year Released | 1950 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2199 cc | 2746 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 66 HP | 182 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 158 Nm | 233 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1700 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Top Speed | 134 km/hour | 190 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1340 kg | 1550 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4260 mm | 4760 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1780 mm | 1800 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1670 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2520 mm | 2830 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 56 L | 90 L |
