1958 Austin Princess vs. 1978 Holden Sunbird
To start off, 1978 Holden Sunbird is newer by 20 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1958 Austin Princess. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1958 Austin Princess would be higher. At 3,993 cc (6 cylinders), 1958 Austin Princess is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1958 Austin Princess (119 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 23 more horse power than 1978 Holden Sunbird. (96 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1958 Austin Princess should accelerate faster than 1978 Holden Sunbird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1958 Austin Princess weights approximately 1020 kg more than 1978 Holden Sunbird. 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, 1958 Austin Princess (251 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 94 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Holden Sunbird. (157 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1958 Austin Princess will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Holden Sunbird. 1978 Holden Sunbird has automatic transmission and 1958 Austin Princess has manual transmission. 1958 Austin Princess will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Holden Sunbird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1958 Austin Princess | 1978 Holden Sunbird | |
| Make | Austin | Holden |
| Model | Princess | Sunbird |
| Year Released | 1958 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3993 cc | 1897 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 119 HP | 96 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 251 Nm | 157 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 2180 kg | 1160 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5470 mm | 4500 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1900 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1780 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3360 mm | 2590 mm |
