1955 Abarth 208 vs. 1961 Riley 4
To start off, 1961 Riley 4 is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1955 Abarth 208. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1955 Abarth 208 would be higher. At 1,489 cc (4 cylinders), 1961 Riley 4 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1955 Abarth 208 (65 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 2 more horse power than 1961 Riley 4. (63 HP @ 4800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1955 Abarth 208 should accelerate faster than 1961 Riley 4. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1961 Riley 4 weights approximately 270 kg more than 1955 Abarth 208.
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.
Compare all specifications:
| 1955 Abarth 208 | 1961 Riley 4 | |
| Make | Abarth | Riley |
| Model | 208 | 4 |
| Year Released | 1955 | 1961 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1088 cc | 1489 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 65 HP | 63 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 7.3:1 |
| Top Speed | 165 km/hour | 126 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 870 kg | 1140 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3630 mm | 4530 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1570 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 950 mm | 1530 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2060 mm | 2550 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 27 L | 45 L |
