1955 Austin A 55 vs. 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260
To start off, 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 is newer by 35 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 2,599 cc (6 cylinders), 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 (168 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 117 more horse power than 1955 Austin A 55. (51 HP @ 4250 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 should accelerate faster than 1955 Austin A 55. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 weights approximately 469 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, 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 (228 Nm @ 4600 RPM) has 118 more torque (in Nm) than 1955 Austin A 55. (110 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1955 Austin A 55. 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 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. 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1955 Austin A 55 | 1990 Mercedes-Benz 260 | |
| Make | Austin | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | A 55 | 260 |
| Year Released | 1955 | 1990 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1489 cc | 2599 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 51 HP | 168 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4250 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 110 Nm | 228 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 4600 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1055 kg | 1524 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4250 mm | 5030 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1570 mm | 1830 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1570 mm | 1440 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2530 mm | 2940 mm |
