1952 Austin A 40 vs. 1979 Renault 5
To start off, 1979 Renault 5 is newer by 27 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 1,397 cc (4 cylinders), 1979 Renault 5 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Renault 5 (159 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 118 more horse power than 1952 Austin A 40. (41 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1979 Renault 5 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 30 kg more than 1979 Renault 5.
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 Renault 5 (221 Nm @ 3250 RPM) has 142 more torque (in Nm) than 1952 Austin A 40. (79 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1979 Renault 5 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 | 1979 Renault 5 | |
| Make | Austin | Renault |
| Model | A 40 | 5 |
| Year Released | 1952 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1199 cc | 1397 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 41 HP | 159 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 79 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 3250 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 65.5 mm | 76 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 89 mm | 77 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 7.2:1 | 7.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1000 kg | 970 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4060 mm | 3670 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1610 mm | 1760 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1590 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2360 mm | 2440 mm |
