1959 Austin A 40 vs. 1969 Riley 4
To start off, 1969 Riley 4 is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Austin A 40. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Austin A 40 would be higher. At 1,622 cc (4 cylinders), 1969 Riley 4 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1969 Riley 4 (67 HP) has 33 more horse power than 1959 Austin A 40. (34 HP) In normal driving conditions, 1969 Riley 4 should accelerate faster than 1959 Austin A 40. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1969 Riley 4 weights approximately 388 kg more than 1959 Austin A 40. 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, 1969 Riley 4 (121 Nm @ 2500 RPM) has 53 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Austin A 40. (68 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1969 Riley 4 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Austin A 40.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Austin A 40 | 1969 Riley 4 | |
| Make | Austin | Riley |
| Model | A 40 | 4 |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1969 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 997 cc | 1622 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 34 HP | 67 HP |
| Torque | 68 Nm | 121 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 62.9 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 76.2 mm | 88.9 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.3:1 | 8.3:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 760 kg | 1148 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3670 mm | 4540 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1520 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1530 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2130 mm | 2530 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 26 L | 45 L |
