1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire vs. 1974 Rover 3.5
To start off, 1974 Rover 3.5 is newer by 21 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 3,532 cc (8 cylinders), 1974 Rover 3.5 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1974 Rover 3.5 (149 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 24 more horse power than 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire. (125 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1974 Rover 3.5 should accelerate faster than 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Rover 3.5 weights approximately 63 kg more than 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire. 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, 1974 Rover 3.5 (276 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 37 more torque (in Nm) than 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire. (239 Nm @ 1000 RPM). This means 1974 Rover 3.5 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire. 1974 Rover 3.5 has automatic transmission and 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire has manual transmission. 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1974 Rover 3.5 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire | 1974 Rover 3.5 | |
| Make | Armstrong Siddeley | Rover |
| Model | Sapphire | 3.5 |
| Year Released | 1953 | 1974 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3435 cc | 3532 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 125 HP | 149 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 239 Nm | 276 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1000 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1575 kg | 1638 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4910 mm | 4750 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1840 mm | 1790 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1610 mm | 1550 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2820 mm |
