1951 Austin A 40 vs. 1974 Seat 1430
To start off, 1974 Seat 1430 is newer by 23 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1951 Austin A 40. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1951 Austin A 40 would be higher. At 1,438 cc (4 cylinders), 1974 Seat 1430 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1974 Seat 1430 (70 HP @ 5400 RPM) has 21 more horse power than 1951 Austin A 40. (49 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1974 Seat 1430 should accelerate faster than 1951 Austin A 40. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1951 Austin A 40 weights approximately 60 kg more than 1974 Seat 1430.
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, 1974 Seat 1430 (112 Nm @ 3300 RPM) has 29 more torque (in Nm) than 1951 Austin A 40. (83 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1974 Seat 1430 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1951 Austin A 40.
Compare all specifications:
| 1951 Austin A 40 | 1974 Seat 1430 | |
| Make | Austin | Seat |
| Model | A 40 | 1430 |
| Year Released | 1951 | 1974 |
| Body Type | Convertible | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1200 cc | 1438 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 49 HP | 70 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 5400 RPM |
| Torque | 83 Nm | 112 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 3300 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 990 kg | 930 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4060 mm | 4030 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1560 mm | 1630 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1430 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2360 mm | 2430 mm |
