1953 Austin A 40 vs. 1963 Opel Rekord
To start off, 1963 Opel Rekord is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1953 Austin A 40. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1953 Austin A 40 would be higher. At 1,487 cc (4 cylinders), 1963 Opel Rekord is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1963 Opel Rekord (53 HP @ 4500 RPM) has 4 more horse power than 1953 Austin A 40. (49 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1963 Opel Rekord should accelerate faster than 1953 Austin A 40. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1953 Austin A 40 weights approximately 20 kg more than 1963 Opel Rekord.
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, 1963 Opel Rekord (108 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 25 more torque (in Nm) than 1953 Austin A 40. (83 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1963 Opel Rekord will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1953 Austin A 40.
Compare all specifications:
| 1953 Austin A 40 | 1963 Opel Rekord | |
| Make | Austin | Opel |
| Model | A 40 | Rekord |
| Year Released | 1953 | 1963 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1200 cc | 1487 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 49 HP | 53 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Torque | 83 Nm | 108 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 65.5 mm | 80 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 89 mm | 74 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 990 kg | 970 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4050 mm | 4520 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1560 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1470 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2360 mm | 2650 mm |
