1951 Austin A vs. 1977 BMW 520
To start off, 1977 BMW 520 is newer by 26 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1951 Austin A. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1951 Austin A would be higher. At 1,990 cc (6 cylinders), 1977 BMW 520 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1977 BMW 520 (120 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 91 more horse power than 1951 Austin A. (29 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1977 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 1951 Austin A. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1977 BMW 520 weights approximately 625 kg more than 1951 Austin A. 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, 1977 BMW 520 (160 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 106 more torque (in Nm) than 1951 Austin A. (54 Nm @ 2200 RPM). This means 1977 BMW 520 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1951 Austin A.
Compare all specifications:
| 1951 Austin A | 1977 BMW 520 | |
| Make | Austin | BMW |
| Model | A | 520 |
| Year Released | 1951 | 1977 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 803 cc | 1990 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 29 HP | 120 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 54 Nm | 160 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 7.2:1 | 9.2:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Top Speed | 95 km/hour | 180 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 3 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 685 kg | 1310 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3470 mm | 4630 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1410 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1490 mm | 1430 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2030 mm | 2640 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 48 L | 70 L |
