1959 Abarth 850 vs. 1978 Vauxhall Chevette
To start off, 1978 Vauxhall Chevette is newer by 19 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 1,255 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Vauxhall Chevette is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1959 Abarth 850 (70 HP @ 6800 RPM) has 14 more horse power than 1978 Vauxhall Chevette. (56 HP @ 5600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1959 Abarth 850 should accelerate faster than 1978 Vauxhall Chevette. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Vauxhall Chevette weights approximately 285 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, 1978 Vauxhall Chevette (89 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 9 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Abarth 850. (80 Nm @ 4800 RPM). This means 1978 Vauxhall Chevette will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Abarth 850.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Abarth 850 | 1978 Vauxhall Chevette | |
| Make | Abarth | Vauxhall |
| Model | 850 | Chevette |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 847 cc | 1255 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 70 HP | 56 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6800 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 80 Nm | 89 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4800 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 8.7:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 570 kg | 855 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3480 mm | 3950 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1360 mm | 1580 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1150 mm | 1320 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2010 mm | 2400 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 30 L | 45 L |
