1959 Alpine A 106 vs. 1978 Fiat 126
To start off, 1978 Fiat 126 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 844 cc (4 cylinders), 1959 Alpine A 106 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1959 Alpine A 106 (49 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 25 more horse power than 1978 Fiat 126. (24 HP @ 4500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1959 Alpine A 106 should accelerate faster than 1978 Fiat 126. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Fiat 126 weights approximately 30 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, 1959 Alpine A 106 (57 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 15 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Fiat 126. (42 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1959 Alpine A 106 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Fiat 126.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Alpine A 106 | 1978 Fiat 126 | |
| Make | Alpine | Fiat |
| Model | A 106 | 126 |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Rear |
| Engine Size | 844 cc | 651 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 2 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 49 HP | 24 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Torque | 57 Nm | 42 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1800 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 555 kg | 585 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3710 mm | 3130 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1460 mm | 1390 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1180 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2110 mm | 1850 mm |
