1959 Austin A 40 vs. 1988 BMW 520
To start off, 1988 BMW 520 is newer by 29 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 1,989 cc (6 cylinders), 1988 BMW 520 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 BMW 520 (129 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 95 more horse power than 1959 Austin A 40. (34 HP @ 4750 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1988 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 1959 Austin A 40. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 BMW 520 weights approximately 810 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, 1988 BMW 520 (174 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 106 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Austin A 40. (68 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1988 BMW 520 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 | 1988 BMW 520 | |
Make | Austin | BMW |
Model | A 40 | 520 |
Year Released | 1959 | 1988 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 997 cc | 1989 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
Horse Power | 34 HP | 129 HP |
Engine RPM | 4750 RPM | 6000 RPM |
Torque | 68 Nm | 174 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 62.9 mm | 80 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 76.2 mm | 66 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 8.3:1 | 10.5:1 |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 760 kg | 1570 kg |
Vehicle Length | 3670 mm | 4780 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1520 mm | 1810 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1440 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2130 mm | 2770 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 26 L | 70 L |