1951 Austin A vs. 1980 Fiat 126
To start off, 1980 Fiat 126 is newer by 29 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 803 cc (4 cylinders), 1951 Austin A is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1951 Austin A (29 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 5 more horse power than 1980 Fiat 126. (24 HP @ 4500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1951 Austin A should accelerate faster than 1980 Fiat 126. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1951 Austin A weights approximately 100 kg more than 1980 Fiat 126. 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, 1951 Austin A (54 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 12 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Fiat 126. (42 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1951 Austin A will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Fiat 126.
Compare all specifications:
| 1951 Austin A | 1980 Fiat 126 | |
| Make | Austin | Fiat |
| Model | A | 126 |
| Year Released | 1951 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Rear |
| Engine Size | 803 cc | 652 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 2 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 29 HP | 24 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Torque | 54 Nm | 42 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 685 kg | 585 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3470 mm | 3130 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1410 mm | 1390 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1490 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2030 mm | 1850 mm |
