1951 Austin A 40 vs. 1978 Daihatsu Charmant
To start off, 1978 Daihatsu Charmant is newer by 27 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 1,586 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Daihatsu Charmant is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Daihatsu Charmant (82 HP @ 5600 RPM) has 44 more horse power than 1951 Austin A 40. (38 HP @ 4300 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Daihatsu Charmant 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 75 kg more than 1978 Daihatsu Charmant.
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, 1978 Daihatsu Charmant (130 Nm @ 3400 RPM) has 50 more torque (in Nm) than 1951 Austin A 40. (80 Nm @ 2300 RPM). This means 1978 Daihatsu Charmant 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 | 1978 Daihatsu Charmant | |
| Make | Austin | Daihatsu |
| Model | A 40 | Charmant |
| Year Released | 1951 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1200 cc | 1586 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 38 HP | 82 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4300 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 80 Nm | 130 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2300 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 970 kg | 895 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3890 mm | 4000 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1560 mm | 1530 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1620 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2360 mm | 2340 mm |
