1961 Austin A 40 vs. 1981 Reliant Kitten
To start off, 1981 Reliant Kitten is newer by 20 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1961 Austin A 40. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1961 Austin A 40 would be higher. At 948 cc (4 cylinders), 1961 Austin A 40 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Reliant Kitten (40 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 4 more horse power than 1961 Austin A 40. (36 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Reliant Kitten should accelerate faster than 1961 Austin A 40. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1961 Austin A 40 weights approximately 220 kg more than 1981 Reliant Kitten.
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, 1961 Austin A 40 (68 Nm @ 2500 RPM) has 5 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Reliant Kitten. (63 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1961 Austin A 40 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Reliant Kitten.
Compare all specifications:
| 1961 Austin A 40 | 1981 Reliant Kitten | |
| Make | Austin | Reliant |
| Model | A 40 | Kitten |
| Year Released | 1961 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 948 cc | 848 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 36 HP | 40 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 68 Nm | 63 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 64.6 mm | 62.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 76.2 mm | 69.1 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 760 kg | 540 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3670 mm | 3330 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1520 mm | 1430 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2220 mm | 2150 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 45 L | 27 L |
