1961 Fiat 850 vs. 1979 Lancia Beta
To start off, 1979 Lancia Beta is newer by 18 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1961 Fiat 850. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1961 Fiat 850 would be higher. At 1,994 cc (4 cylinders), 1979 Lancia Beta is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Lancia Beta (118 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 67 more horse power than 1961 Fiat 850. (51 HP @ 5800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1979 Lancia Beta should accelerate faster than 1961 Fiat 850. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Lancia Beta weights approximately 427 kg more than 1961 Fiat 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, 1979 Lancia Beta (171 Nm @ 3400 RPM) has 102 more torque (in Nm) than 1961 Fiat 850. (69 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1979 Lancia Beta will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1961 Fiat 850.
Compare all specifications:
| 1961 Fiat 850 | 1979 Lancia Beta | |
| Make | Fiat | Lancia |
| Model | 850 | Beta |
| Year Released | 1961 | 1979 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Rear | Middle |
| Engine Size | 847 cc | 1994 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 51 HP | 118 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 69 Nm | 171 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.2:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Top Speed | 153 km/hour | 192 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 613 kg | 1040 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3290 mm | 3820 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1390 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1410 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2010 mm | 2360 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 38 L | 59 L |
