1971 Fiat 850 vs. 1958 Fiat 500
To start off, 1971 Fiat 850 is newer by 13 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1958 Fiat 500. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1958 Fiat 500 would be higher. At 847 cc (4 cylinders), 1971 Fiat 850 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Fiat 850 (51 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 37 more horse power than 1958 Fiat 500. (14 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Fiat 850 should accelerate faster than 1958 Fiat 500.
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, 1971 Fiat 850 (69 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 45 more torque (in Nm) than 1958 Fiat 500. (24 Nm @ 3400 RPM). This means 1971 Fiat 850 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1958 Fiat 500.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Fiat 850 | 1958 Fiat 500 | |
| Make | Fiat | Fiat |
| Model | 850 | 500 |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1958 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Rear | Rear |
| Engine Size | 847 cc | 479 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 2 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 51 HP | 14 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 69 Nm | 24 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.2:1 | 7.1:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Length | 3660 mm | 2980 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1510 mm | 1330 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1310 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2040 mm | 1850 mm |
