1959 Alpine A 106 vs. 1978 Reliant Kitten
To start off, 1978 Reliant Kitten 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 846 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Reliant Kitten is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1959 Alpine A 106 (49 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 9 more horse power than 1978 Reliant Kitten. (40 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1959 Alpine A 106 should accelerate faster than 1978 Reliant Kitten. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1959 Alpine A 106 weights approximately 20 kg more than 1978 Reliant Kitten. 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, 1978 Reliant Kitten (63 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 6 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Alpine A 106. (57 Nm @ 1800 RPM). This means 1978 Reliant Kitten 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 Reliant Kitten | |
| Make | Alpine | Reliant |
| Model | A 106 | Kitten |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 844 cc | 846 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 49 HP | 40 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 57 Nm | 63 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1800 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 555 kg | 535 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3710 mm | 3330 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1460 mm | 1430 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1180 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2110 mm | 2150 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 28 L | 27 L |
