1958 Austin-Healey Sprite vs. 1968 Opel Olympia
To start off, 1968 Opel Olympia is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1958 Austin-Healey Sprite. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1958 Austin-Healey Sprite would be higher. At 1,078 cc (4 cylinders), 1968 Opel Olympia is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1968 Opel Olympia (59 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 15 more horse power than 1958 Austin-Healey Sprite. (44 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1968 Opel Olympia should accelerate faster than 1958 Austin-Healey Sprite. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1968 Opel Olympia weights approximately 116 kg more than 1958 Austin-Healey Sprite. 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, 1968 Opel Olympia (86 Nm @ 4400 RPM) has 15 more torque (in Nm) than 1958 Austin-Healey Sprite. (71 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1968 Opel Olympia will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1958 Austin-Healey Sprite.
Compare all specifications:
| 1958 Austin-Healey Sprite | 1968 Opel Olympia | |
| Make | Austin-Healey | Opel |
| Model | Sprite | Olympia |
| Year Released | 1958 | 1968 |
| Body Type | Roadster | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 948 cc | 1078 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 44 HP | 59 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 71 Nm | 86 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.3:1 | 9.2:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 664 kg | 780 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3500 mm | 4190 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1350 mm | 1580 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1270 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2040 mm | 2420 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 27 L | 70 L |
