1952 Austin A 40 vs. 1955 Porsche 356
To start off, 1955 Porsche 356 is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1952 Austin A 40. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1952 Austin A 40 would be higher. At 1,498 cc (4 cylinders), 1955 Porsche 356 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1955 Porsche 356 (100 HP @ 6200 RPM) has 59 more horse power than 1952 Austin A 40. (41 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1955 Porsche 356 should accelerate faster than 1952 Austin A 40. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1952 Austin A 40 weights approximately 150 kg more than 1955 Porsche 356.
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, 1955 Porsche 356 (119 Nm @ 5200 RPM) has 40 more torque (in Nm) than 1952 Austin A 40. (79 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1955 Porsche 356 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1952 Austin A 40.
Compare all specifications:
| 1952 Austin A 40 | 1955 Porsche 356 | |
| Make | Austin | Porsche |
| Model | A 40 | 356 |
| Year Released | 1952 | 1955 |
| Engine Position | Front | Rear |
| Engine Size | 1199 cc | 1498 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | boxer |
| Horse Power | 41 HP | 100 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 6200 RPM |
| Torque | 79 Nm | 119 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 7.2:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Top Speed | 113 km/hour | 196 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1000 kg | 850 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4060 mm | 3960 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1610 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1590 mm | 1300 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2360 mm | 2110 mm |
