1956 Austin A 40 vs. 1979 Pontiac Grand Safari
To start off, 1979 Pontiac Grand Safari is newer by 23 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1956 Austin A 40. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1956 Austin A 40 would be higher. At 5,032 cc (8 cylinders), 1979 Pontiac Grand Safari is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Pontiac Grand Safari (148 HP @ 3600 RPM) has 107 more horse power than 1956 Austin A 40. (41 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1979 Pontiac Grand Safari should accelerate faster than 1956 Austin A 40. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Pontiac Grand Safari weights approximately 770 kg more than 1956 Austin A 40. 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 Pontiac Grand Safari (325 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 246 more torque (in Nm) than 1956 Austin A 40. (79 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1979 Pontiac Grand Safari will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1956 Austin A 40. 1979 Pontiac Grand Safari has automatic transmission and 1956 Austin A 40 has manual transmission. 1956 Austin A 40 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1979 Pontiac Grand Safari will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1956 Austin A 40 | 1979 Pontiac Grand Safari | |
| Make | Austin | Pontiac |
| Model | A 40 | Grand Safari |
| Year Released | 1956 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1200 cc | 5032 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 41 HP | 148 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 79 Nm | 325 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1030 kg | 1800 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4130 mm | 5450 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1570 mm | 2020 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1570 mm | 1460 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2530 mm | 2950 mm |
