1956 Austin Princess vs. 1978 Fiat 131
To start off, 1978 Fiat 131 is newer by 22 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 59 more horse power than 1978 Fiat 131. (59 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1956 Austin Princess should accelerate faster than 1978 Fiat 131. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1956 Austin Princess weights approximately 1004 kg more than 1978 Fiat 131. 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 138 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Fiat 131. (113 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1956 Austin Princess will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Fiat 131. 1978 Fiat 131 has automatic transmission and 1956 Austin Princess has manual transmission. 1956 Austin Princess will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Fiat 131 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1956 Austin Princess | 1978 Fiat 131 | |
| Make | Austin | Fiat |
| Model | Princess | 131 |
| Year Released | 1956 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3993 cc | 1995 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 118 HP | 59 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 251 Nm | 113 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Diesel |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 2184 kg | 1180 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5470 mm | 4270 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1900 mm | 1660 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1780 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3360 mm | 2500 mm |
