1955 Fairthorpe Atom vs. 1965 Riley Kestrel

To start off, 1965 Riley Kestrel is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1955 Fairthorpe Atom. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1955 Fairthorpe Atom would be higher. At 1,098 cc (4 cylinders), 1965 Riley Kestrel is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1965 Riley Kestrel (53 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 18 more horse power than 1955 Fairthorpe Atom. (35 HP @ 5700 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1965 Riley Kestrel should accelerate faster than 1955 Fairthorpe Atom. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1965 Riley Kestrel weights approximately 454 kg more than 1955 Fairthorpe Atom. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.

Because 1955 Fairthorpe Atom is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1955 Fairthorpe Atom. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1965 Riley Kestrel, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 1965 Riley Kestrel (84 Nm @ 2500 RPM) has 35 more torque (in Nm) than 1955 Fairthorpe Atom. (49 Nm @ 3750 RPM). This means 1965 Riley Kestrel will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1955 Fairthorpe Atom.

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