1953 Austin A 135 vs. 1978 BMW M1
To start off, 1978 BMW M1 is newer by 25 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1953 Austin A 135. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1953 Austin A 135 would be higher. At 3,993 cc (6 cylinders), 1953 Austin A 135 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 BMW M1 (273 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 155 more horse power than 1953 Austin A 135. (118 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 BMW M1 should accelerate faster than 1953 Austin A 135. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1953 Austin A 135 weights approximately 880 kg more than 1978 BMW M1.
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, 1978 BMW M1 (330 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 79 more torque (in Nm) than 1953 Austin A 135. (251 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1978 BMW M1 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1953 Austin A 135.
Compare all specifications:
| 1953 Austin A 135 | 1978 BMW M1 | |
| Make | Austin | BMW |
| Model | A 135 | M1 |
| Year Released | 1953 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 3993 cc | 3453 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 118 HP | 273 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 251 Nm | 330 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 2180 kg | 1300 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5470 mm | 4370 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1900 mm | 1830 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1780 mm | 1140 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3360 mm | 2570 mm |
