1959 Abarth 850 vs. 1949 Austin A 40
To start off, 1959 Abarth 850 is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1949 Austin A 40. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1949 Austin A 40 would be higher. At 1,198 cc (4 cylinders), 1949 Austin A 40 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1959 Abarth 850 (70 HP @ 6800 RPM) has 32 more horse power than 1949 Austin A 40. (38 HP @ 4300 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1959 Abarth 850 should accelerate faster than 1949 Austin A 40. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1949 Austin A 40 weights approximately 400 kg more than 1959 Abarth 850.
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, both vehicles can yield 80 Nm of torque. So under normal driving conditions, the ability to climb up hills and pull heavy equipment should be relatively similar for both vehicles.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Abarth 850 | 1949 Austin A 40 | |
| Make | Abarth | Austin |
| Model | 850 | A 40 |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1949 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 847 cc | 1198 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 70 HP | 38 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6800 RPM | 4300 RPM |
| Torque | 80 Nm | 80 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4800 RPM | 2300 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 570 kg | 970 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3480 mm | 3890 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1360 mm | 1560 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1150 mm | 1620 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2010 mm | 2360 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 30 L | 48 L |
