1955 Austin A 55 vs. 1978 Mazda 818
To start off, 1978 Mazda 818 is newer by 23 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 1,489 cc (4 cylinders), 1955 Austin A 55 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Mazda 818 (68 HP @ 6200 RPM) has 17 more horse power than 1955 Austin A 55. (51 HP @ 4250 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Mazda 818 should accelerate faster than 1955 Austin A 55. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1955 Austin A 55 weights approximately 55 kg more than 1978 Mazda 818.
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, 1955 Austin A 55 (110 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 18 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Mazda 818. (92 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1955 Austin A 55 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Mazda 818.
Compare all specifications:
| 1955 Austin A 55 | 1978 Mazda 818 | |
| Make | Austin | Mazda |
| Model | A 55 | 818 |
| Year Released | 1955 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1489 cc | 1272 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 51 HP | 68 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4250 RPM | 6200 RPM |
| Torque | 110 Nm | 92 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 1055 kg | 1000 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4250 mm | 4100 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1570 mm | 1600 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1570 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2530 mm | 2320 mm |
