1953 Austin A 70 vs. 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280
To start off, 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 is newer by 26 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1953 Austin A 70. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1953 Austin A 70 would be higher. At 2,745 cc (6 cylinders), 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 (185 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 119 more horse power than 1953 Austin A 70. (66 HP @ 3700 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 should accelerate faster than 1953 Austin A 70. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 weights approximately 280 kg more than 1953 Austin A 70. 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, 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 (240 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 83 more torque (in Nm) than 1953 Austin A 70. (157 Nm @ 1700 RPM). This means 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1953 Austin A 70.
Compare all specifications:
| 1953 Austin A 70 | 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 | |
| Make | Austin | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | A 70 | 280 |
| Year Released | 1953 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2199 cc | 2745 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 66 HP | 185 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3700 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 157 Nm | 240 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1700 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 6.8:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1280 kg | 1560 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4260 mm | 5000 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1770 mm | 1830 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1670 mm | 1440 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2520 mm | 2940 mm |
