1959 Fairthorpe Zeta vs. 1965 Riley 4
To start off, 1965 Riley 4 is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Fairthorpe Zeta. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Fairthorpe Zeta would be higher. At 2,553 cc (6 cylinders), 1959 Fairthorpe Zeta is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1959 Fairthorpe Zeta (138 HP) has 71 more horse power than 1965 Riley 4. (67 HP). In normal driving conditions, 1959 Fairthorpe Zeta should accelerate faster than 1965 Riley 4. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1965 Riley 4 weights approximately 475 kg more than 1959 Fairthorpe Zeta.
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 Fairthorpe Zeta (217 Nm @ 3200 RPM) has 96 more torque (in Nm) than 1965 Riley 4. (121 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1959 Fairthorpe Zeta will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1965 Riley 4.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Fairthorpe Zeta | 1965 Riley 4 | |
| Make | Fairthorpe | Riley |
| Model | Zeta | 4 |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1965 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2553 cc | 1620 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 67 HP |
| Torque | 217 Nm | 121 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3200 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82.6 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 79.5 mm | 88.9 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 8.3:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 673 kg | 1148 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3560 mm | 4540 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1480 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1180 mm | 1530 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2230 mm | 2530 mm |
