1959 Fiat 1800 vs. 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380

To start off, 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380 is newer by 21 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Fiat 1800. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Fiat 1800 would be higher. At 3,818 cc (8 cylinders), 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380 (218 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 132 more horse power than 1959 Fiat 1800. (86 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380 should accelerate faster than 1959 Fiat 1800. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380 weights approximately 345 kg more than 1959 Fiat 1800. 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, 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380 (305 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 163 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Fiat 1800. (142 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Fiat 1800. 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380 has automatic transmission and 1959 Fiat 1800 has manual transmission. 1959 Fiat 1800 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.

Compare all specifications:

1959 Fiat 1800 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380
Make Fiat Mercedes-Benz
Model 1800 380
Year Released 1959 1980
Engine Position Front Front
Engine Size 1796 cc 3818 cc
Engine Cylinders 6 cylinders 8 cylinders
Engine Type in-line V
Horse Power 86 HP 218 HP
Engine RPM 5000 RPM 5500 RPM
Torque 142 Nm 305 Nm
Torque RPM 3000 RPM 4000 RPM
Engine Bore Size 72.1 mm 92 mm
Engine Stroke Size 73.5 mm 71.8 mm
Engine Compression Ratio 8.8:1 9.0:1
Drive Type Rear Rear
Transmission Type Manual Automatic
Number of Seats 5 seats 4 seats
Vehicle Weight 1215 kg 1560 kg
Vehicle Length 4470 mm 4760 mm
Vehicle Width 1630 mm 1800 mm
Vehicle Height 1480 mm 1340 mm
Wheelbase Size 2650 mm 2820 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 37 L 90 L