1963 Austin A 99 vs. 1989 BMW 850
To start off, 1989 BMW 850 is newer by 26 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1963 Austin A 99. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1963 Austin A 99 would be higher. At 4,988 cc (12 cylinders), 1989 BMW 850 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 BMW 850 (296 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 189 more horse power than 1963 Austin A 99. (107 HP @ 4750 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1989 BMW 850 should accelerate faster than 1963 Austin A 99. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1963 Austin A 99 weights approximately 275 kg more than 1989 BMW 850.
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, 1989 BMW 850 (450 Nm @ 4100 RPM) has 226 more torque (in Nm) than 1963 Austin A 99. (224 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1989 BMW 850 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1963 Austin A 99. 1989 BMW 850 has automatic transmission and 1963 Austin A 99 has manual transmission. 1963 Austin A 99 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1989 BMW 850 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1963 Austin A 99 | 1989 BMW 850 | |
| Make | Austin | BMW |
| Model | A 99 | 850 |
| Year Released | 1963 | 1989 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2912 cc | 4988 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 12 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 107 HP | 296 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4750 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 224 Nm | 450 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 4100 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.3:1 | 8.8:1 |
| Top Speed | 162 km/hour | 246 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1530 kg | 1255 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 4790 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1750 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1540 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2800 mm | 2690 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 34 L | 90 L |
