1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire vs. 1965 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III
To start off, 1965 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire would be higher. At 3,435 cc (6 cylinders), 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1965 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III (146 HP @ 5250 RPM) has 21 more horse power than 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire. (125 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1965 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III should accelerate faster than 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire weights approximately 395 kg more than 1965 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III.
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, 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire (239 Nm @ 1000 RPM) has 73 more torque (in Nm) than 1965 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III. (166 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1965 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III.
Compare all specifications:
| 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire | 1965 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III | |
| Make | Armstrong Siddeley | Austin-Healey |
| Model | Sapphire | 3000 Mk III |
| Year Released | 1953 | 1965 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3435 cc | 2912 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 125 HP | 146 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 5250 RPM |
| Torque | 239 Nm | 166 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1000 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Top Speed | 141 km/hour | 195 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1575 kg | 1180 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4910 mm | 4010 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1840 mm | 1540 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1610 mm | 1250 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2340 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 72 L | 54 L |
