1959 Abarth 850 vs. 1964 Rover P5
To start off, 1964 Rover P5 is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Abarth 850. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Abarth 850 would be higher. At 2,995 cc (6 cylinders), 1964 Rover P5 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1964 Rover P5 (119 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 49 more horse power than 1959 Abarth 850. (70 HP @ 6800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1964 Rover P5 should accelerate faster than 1959 Abarth 850. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1964 Rover P5 weights approximately 1150 kg more than 1959 Abarth 850. 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, 1964 Rover P5 (219 Nm @ 2650 RPM) has 139 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Abarth 850. (80 Nm @ 4800 RPM). This means 1964 Rover P5 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Abarth 850. 1964 Rover P5 has automatic transmission and 1959 Abarth 850 has manual transmission. 1959 Abarth 850 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1964 Rover P5 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Abarth 850 | 1964 Rover P5 | |
| Make | Abarth | Rover |
| Model | 850 | P5 |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1964 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 847 cc | 2995 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 70 HP | 119 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6800 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Torque | 80 Nm | 219 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4800 RPM | 2650 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 570 kg | 1720 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3480 mm | 4750 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1360 mm | 1790 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1150 mm | 1480 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2010 mm | 2820 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 30 L | 52 L |
