1961 Austin A 55 vs. 1978 Toyota Celica
To start off, 1978 Toyota Celica is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1961 Austin A 55. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1961 Austin A 55 would be higher. At 1,967 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Toyota Celica is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Toyota Celica (89 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 38 more horse power than 1961 Austin A 55. (51 HP @ 4350 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Toyota Celica should accelerate faster than 1961 Austin A 55. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1961 Austin A 55 weights approximately 4 kg more than 1978 Toyota Celica.
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, 1978 Toyota Celica (145 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 34 more torque (in Nm) than 1961 Austin A 55. (111 Nm @ 2100 RPM). This means 1978 Toyota Celica will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1961 Austin A 55.
Compare all specifications:
| 1961 Austin A 55 | 1978 Toyota Celica | |
| Make | Austin | Toyota |
| Model | A 55 | Celica |
| Year Released | 1961 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1488 cc | 1967 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 51 HP | 89 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4350 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 111 Nm | 145 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2100 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.3:1 | 8.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 3 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1120 kg | 1116 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4530 mm | 4340 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1620 mm | 1650 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1520 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2530 mm | 2510 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 45 L | 60 L |
