1959 Abarth 850 vs. 1976 Fiat 131
To start off, 1976 Fiat 131 is newer by 17 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 1,295 cc (4 cylinders), 1976 Fiat 131 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1959 Abarth 850 (70 HP @ 6800 RPM) has 6 more horse power than 1976 Fiat 131. (64 HP @ 5400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1959 Abarth 850 should accelerate faster than 1976 Fiat 131. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Fiat 131 weights approximately 450 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, 1976 Fiat 131 (102 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 22 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Abarth 850. (80 Nm @ 4800 RPM). This means 1976 Fiat 131 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Abarth 850.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Abarth 850 | 1976 Fiat 131 | |
| Make | Abarth | Fiat |
| Model | 850 | 131 |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 847 cc | 1295 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 70 HP | 64 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6800 RPM | 5400 RPM |
| Torque | 80 Nm | 102 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4800 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 570 kg | 1020 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3480 mm | 4270 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1360 mm | 1660 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1150 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2010 mm | 2500 mm |
