1956 Austin Princess vs. 1961 Ford Zodiac
To start off, 1961 Ford Zodiac is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1956 Austin Princess. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1956 Austin Princess would be higher. At 3,993 cc (6 cylinders), 1956 Austin Princess is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1956 Austin Princess (118 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 42 more horse power than 1961 Ford Zodiac. (76 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1956 Austin Princess should accelerate faster than 1961 Ford Zodiac. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1956 Austin Princess weights approximately 993 kg more than 1961 Ford Zodiac. 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, 1956 Austin Princess (251 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 64 more torque (in Nm) than 1961 Ford Zodiac. (187 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1956 Austin Princess will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1961 Ford Zodiac.
Compare all specifications:
| 1956 Austin Princess | 1961 Ford Zodiac | |
| Make | Austin | Ford |
| Model | Princess | Zodiac |
| Year Released | 1956 | 1961 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3993 cc | 2552 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 118 HP | 76 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 251 Nm | 187 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 2184 kg | 1191 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5470 mm | 4600 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1900 mm | 1760 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1780 mm | 1520 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3360 mm | 2720 mm |
