1959 Abarth 850 vs. 1958 Austin-Healey Sprite
To start off, 1959 Abarth 850 is newer by 1 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 948 cc (4 cylinders), 1958 Austin-Healey Sprite is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1959 Abarth 850 (70 HP @ 6800 RPM) has 26 more horse power than 1958 Austin-Healey Sprite. (44 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1959 Abarth 850 should accelerate faster than 1958 Austin-Healey Sprite. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1958 Austin-Healey Sprite weights approximately 94 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, 1959 Abarth 850 (80 Nm @ 4800 RPM) has 9 more torque (in Nm) than 1958 Austin-Healey Sprite. (71 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1959 Abarth 850 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1958 Austin-Healey Sprite.
Compare all specifications:
1959 Abarth 850 | 1958 Austin-Healey Sprite | |
Make | Abarth | Austin-Healey |
Model | 850 | Sprite |
Year Released | 1959 | 1958 |
Engine Position | Rear | Front |
Engine Size | 847 cc | 948 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 70 HP | 44 HP |
Engine RPM | 6800 RPM | 5500 RPM |
Torque | 80 Nm | 71 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4800 RPM | 3000 RPM |
Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 8.3:1 |
Top Speed | 185 km/hour | 124 km/hour |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 570 kg | 664 kg |
Vehicle Length | 3480 mm | 3500 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1360 mm | 1350 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1150 mm | 1270 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2010 mm | 2040 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 30 L | 27 L |