1958 Austin A 40 vs. 1957 Riley 1.5
To start off, 1958 Austin A 40 is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1957 Riley 1.5. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1957 Riley 1.5 would be higher. At 1,489 cc (4 cylinders), 1957 Riley 1.5 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1957 Riley 1.5 (63 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 28 more horse power than 1958 Austin A 40. (35 HP @ 4750 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1957 Riley 1.5 should accelerate faster than 1958 Austin A 40. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1957 Riley 1.5 weights approximately 174 kg more than 1958 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, 1957 Riley 1.5 (112 Nm @ 2500 RPM) has 44 more torque (in Nm) than 1958 Austin A 40. (68 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1957 Riley 1.5 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1958 Austin A 40.
Compare all specifications:
| 1958 Austin A 40 | 1957 Riley 1.5 | |
| Make | Austin | Riley |
| Model | A 40 | 1.5 |
| Year Released | 1958 | 1957 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 948 cc | 1489 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 35 HP | 63 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4750 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 68 Nm | 112 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 62.9 mm | 73 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 76.2 mm | 88.9 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 761 kg | 935 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3670 mm | 3890 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1520 mm | 1560 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1510 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2130 mm | 2190 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 26 L | 31 L |
