1951 Austin A 40 vs. 1979 Daihatsu Charmant
To start off, 1979 Daihatsu Charmant is newer by 28 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 1,290 cc (4 cylinders), 1979 Daihatsu Charmant is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Daihatsu Charmant (67 HP @ 5600 RPM) has 29 more horse power than 1951 Austin A 40. (38 HP @ 4300 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1979 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 170 kg more than 1979 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, 1979 Daihatsu Charmant (103 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 23 more torque (in Nm) than 1951 Austin A 40. (80 Nm @ 2300 RPM). This means 1979 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 | 1979 Daihatsu Charmant | |
| Make | Austin | Daihatsu |
| Model | A 40 | Charmant |
| Year Released | 1951 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1200 cc | 1290 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 38 HP | 67 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4300 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 80 Nm | 103 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2300 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 970 kg | 800 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3890 mm | 4120 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1560 mm | 1540 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1620 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2360 mm | 2340 mm |
