1960 Abarth 850 vs. 1996 Mercedes-Benz S
To start off, 1996 Mercedes-Benz S is newer by 36 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1960 Abarth 850. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1960 Abarth 850 would be higher. At 5,985 cc (12 cylinders), 1996 Mercedes-Benz S is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Mercedes-Benz S (389 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 338 more horse power than 1960 Abarth 850. (51 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1996 Mercedes-Benz S should accelerate faster than 1960 Abarth 850. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 Mercedes-Benz S weights approximately 1610 kg more than 1960 Abarth 850. 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, 1996 Mercedes-Benz S (570 Nm @ 3800 RPM) has 500 more torque (in Nm) than 1960 Abarth 850. (70 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1996 Mercedes-Benz S will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1960 Abarth 850. 1996 Mercedes-Benz S has automatic transmission and 1960 Abarth 850 has manual transmission. 1960 Abarth 850 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1996 Mercedes-Benz S will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1960 Abarth 850 | 1996 Mercedes-Benz S | |
| Make | Abarth | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | 850 | S |
| Year Released | 1960 | 1996 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 850 cc | 5985 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 12 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 51 HP | 389 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 70 Nm | 570 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 62.5 mm | 89 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 69 mm | 80.2 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 570 kg | 2180 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3600 mm | 5120 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1360 mm | 1890 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1180 mm | 1490 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2010 mm | 2520 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 60 L | 100 L |
