1957 Fairthorpe Electron vs. 1979 Volvo 343
To start off, 1979 Volvo 343 is newer by 22 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1957 Fairthorpe Electron. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1957 Fairthorpe Electron would be higher. At 1,397 cc (4 cylinders), 1979 Volvo 343 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1957 Fairthorpe Electron (83 HP @ 6800 RPM) has 13 more horse power than 1979 Volvo 343. (70 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1957 Fairthorpe Electron should accelerate faster than 1979 Volvo 343. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Volvo 343 weights approximately 448 kg more than 1957 Fairthorpe Electron.
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 Volvo 343 (108 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 9 more torque (in Nm) than 1957 Fairthorpe Electron. (99 Nm @ 4750 RPM). This means 1979 Volvo 343 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1957 Fairthorpe Electron. 1979 Volvo 343 has automatic transmission and 1957 Fairthorpe Electron has manual transmission. 1957 Fairthorpe Electron will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1979 Volvo 343 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1957 Fairthorpe Electron | 1979 Volvo 343 | |
| Make | Fairthorpe | Volvo |
| Model | Electron | 343 |
| Year Released | 1957 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1098 cc | 1397 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 83 HP | 70 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6800 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 99 Nm | 108 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4750 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 542 kg | 990 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3660 mm | 4210 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1530 mm | 1670 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1170 mm | 1400 mm |
