1955 Austin A 55 vs. 1956 Buick 40
To start off, 1956 Buick 40 is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1955 Austin A 55. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1955 Austin A 55 would be higher. At 5,279 cc (8 cylinders), 1956 Buick 40 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1956 Buick 40 (217 HP @ 4400 RPM) has 166 more horse power than 1955 Austin A 55. (51 HP @ 4250 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1956 Buick 40 should accelerate faster than 1955 Austin A 55. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1956 Buick 40 weights approximately 649 kg more than 1955 Austin A 55. 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, 1956 Buick 40 (433 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 323 more torque (in Nm) than 1955 Austin A 55. (110 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1956 Buick 40 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1955 Austin A 55.
Compare all specifications:
| 1955 Austin A 55 | 1956 Buick 40 | |
| Make | Austin | Buick |
| Model | A 55 | 40 |
| Year Released | 1955 | 1956 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1489 cc | 5279 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 51 HP | 217 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4250 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 110 Nm | 433 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1055 kg | 1704 kg |
| Vehicle Width | 1570 mm | 1950 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2530 mm | 3110 mm |
