1959 Alpine A 106 vs. 1978 Austin Marina
To start off, 1978 Austin Marina is newer by 19 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Alpine A 106. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Alpine A 106 would be higher. At 1,275 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Austin Marina is equipped with a bigger engine. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Austin Marina weights approximately 352 kg more than 1959 Alpine A 106.
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 Austin Marina (102 Nm @ 2500 RPM) has 57 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Alpine A 106. (45 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1978 Austin Marina will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Alpine A 106.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Alpine A 106 | 1978 Austin Marina | |
| Make | Alpine | Austin |
| Model | A 106 | Marina |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 747 cc | 1275 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 0 HP | 59 HP |
| Torque | 45 Nm | 102 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 54.5 mm | 70.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 80 mm | 81.3 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 530 kg | 882 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3700 mm | 4230 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1450 mm | 1660 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1280 mm | 1430 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2110 mm | 2440 mm |
