1955 Fairthorpe Atom vs. 1978 Ferrari 308
To start off, 1978 Ferrari 308 is newer by 23 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 2,927 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Ferrari 308 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Ferrari 308 (255 HP @ 7700 RPM) has 220 more horse power than 1955 Fairthorpe Atom. (35 HP @ 5700 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Ferrari 308 should accelerate faster than 1955 Fairthorpe Atom. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Ferrari 308 weights approximately 934 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.
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, 1978 Ferrari 308 (283 Nm @ 5500 RPM) has 234 more torque (in Nm) than 1955 Fairthorpe Atom. (49 Nm @ 3750 RPM). This means 1978 Ferrari 308 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1955 Fairthorpe Atom.
Compare all specifications:
| 1955 Fairthorpe Atom | 1978 Ferrari 308 | |
| Make | Fairthorpe | Ferrari |
| Model | Atom | 308 |
| Year Released | 1955 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Middle |
| Engine Size | 646 cc | 2927 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 2 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 35 HP | 255 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 7700 RPM |
| Torque | 49 Nm | 283 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3750 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 6.5:1 | 8.8:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 431 kg | 1365 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3660 mm | 4310 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1530 mm | 1720 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1220 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2270 mm | 2560 mm |
