1954 Austin A 40 vs. 1995 Caterham Super 7
To start off, 1995 Caterham Super 7 is newer by 41 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1954 Austin A 40. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1954 Austin A 40 would be higher. At 1,588 cc (4 cylinders), 1995 Caterham Super 7 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1995 Caterham Super 7 (138 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 97 more horse power than 1954 Austin A 40. (41 HP @ 4300 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1995 Caterham Super 7 should accelerate faster than 1954 Austin A 40. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1954 Austin A 40 weights approximately 476 kg more than 1995 Caterham Super 7.
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, 1995 Caterham Super 7 (156 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 72 more torque (in Nm) than 1954 Austin A 40. (84 Nm @ 2200 RPM). This means 1995 Caterham Super 7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1954 Austin A 40.
Compare all specifications:
| 1954 Austin A 40 | 1995 Caterham Super 7 | |
| Make | Austin | Caterham |
| Model | A 40 | Super 7 |
| Year Released | 1954 | 1995 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1198 cc | 1588 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 41 HP | 138 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4300 RPM | 7000 RPM |
| Torque | 84 Nm | 156 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1030 kg | 554 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4060 mm | 3390 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1610 mm | 1590 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1630 mm | 1100 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2360 mm | 2260 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 34 L | 30 L |
