1951 Austin A vs. 1993 BMW 856
To start off, 1993 BMW 856 is newer by 42 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 5,576 cc (12 cylinders), 1993 BMW 856 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1993 BMW 856 (376 HP @ 5300 RPM) has 347 more horse power than 1951 Austin A. (29 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1993 BMW 856 should accelerate faster than 1951 Austin A. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1993 BMW 856 weights approximately 1180 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, 1993 BMW 856 (550 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 496 more torque (in Nm) than 1951 Austin A. (54 Nm @ 2200 RPM). This means 1993 BMW 856 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1951 Austin A.
Compare all specifications:
| 1951 Austin A | 1993 BMW 856 | |
| Make | Austin | BMW |
| Model | A | 856 |
| Year Released | 1951 | 1993 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 803 cc | 5576 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 12 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 29 HP | 376 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 5300 RPM |
| Torque | 54 Nm | 550 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 7.2:1 | 9.8:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 685 kg | 1865 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3470 mm | 4790 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1410 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1490 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2030 mm | 2690 mm |
