1955 Austin A 55 vs. 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280
To start off, 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 is newer by 24 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 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 134 more horse power than 1955 Austin A 55. (51 HP @ 4250 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 should accelerate faster than 1955 Austin A 55. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 weights approximately 505 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, 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 (240 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 130 more torque (in Nm) than 1955 Austin A 55. (110 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1955 Austin A 55. 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 has automatic transmission and 1955 Austin A 55 has manual transmission. 1955 Austin A 55 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
1955 Austin A 55 | 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 | |
Make | Austin | Mercedes-Benz |
Model | A 55 | 280 |
Year Released | 1955 | 1979 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1489 cc | 2745 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 51 HP | 185 HP |
Engine RPM | 4250 RPM | 5800 RPM |
Torque | 110 Nm | 240 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
Vehicle Weight | 1055 kg | 1560 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4250 mm | 5000 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1570 mm | 1830 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1570 mm | 1440 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2530 mm | 2940 mm |