1956 Chevrolet Bel Air vs. 1954 Sunbeam Alpine
To start off, 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1954 Sunbeam Alpine. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1954 Sunbeam Alpine would be higher. At 3,869 cc (6 cylinders), 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air (148 HP @ 4200 RPM) has 69 more horse power than 1954 Sunbeam Alpine. (79 HP @ 4200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air should accelerate faster than 1954 Sunbeam Alpine.
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 Chevrolet Bel Air (278 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 115 more torque (in Nm) than 1954 Sunbeam Alpine. (163 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1954 Sunbeam Alpine.
Compare all specifications:
| 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air | 1954 Sunbeam Alpine | |
| Make | Chevrolet | Sunbeam |
| Model | Bel Air | Alpine |
| Year Released | 1956 | 1954 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3869 cc | 2267 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 148 HP | 79 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4200 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Torque | 278 Nm | 163 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 90.5 mm | 81 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 100 mm | 110 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.3:1 | 7.4:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Length | 4980 mm | 4280 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1980 mm | 1590 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1690 mm | 1480 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2930 mm | 2490 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 79 L | 45 L |
