1971 Riley 4 vs. 1962 Sunbeam Alpine
To start off, 1971 Riley 4 is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1962 Sunbeam Alpine. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1962 Sunbeam Alpine would be higher. At 1,622 cc (4 cylinders), 1971 Riley 4 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1962 Sunbeam Alpine (79 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 12 more horse power than 1971 Riley 4. (67 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1962 Sunbeam Alpine should accelerate faster than 1971 Riley 4. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Riley 4 weights approximately 153 kg more than 1962 Sunbeam Alpine.
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, 1962 Sunbeam Alpine (127 Nm @ 3400 RPM) has 6 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Riley 4. (121 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1962 Sunbeam Alpine will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Riley 4.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Riley 4 | 1962 Sunbeam Alpine | |
| Make | Riley | Sunbeam |
| Model | 4 | Alpine |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1962 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1622 cc | 1592 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 67 HP | 79 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 121 Nm | 127 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 76.3 mm | 81.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 88.9 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.3:1 | 9.1:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1148 kg | 995 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4540 mm | 3950 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1620 mm | 1540 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1510 mm | 1310 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2530 mm | 2190 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 45 L | 40 L |
