1977 AMC Matador vs. 1960 Austin Princess
To start off, 1977 AMC Matador is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1960 Austin Princess. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1960 Austin Princess would be higher. At 4,982 cc (8 cylinders), 1977 AMC Matador is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1977 AMC Matador (120 HP @ 3200 RPM) has 2 more horse power than 1960 Austin Princess. (118 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1977 AMC Matador should accelerate faster than 1960 Austin Princess. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1960 Austin Princess weights approximately 319 kg more than 1977 AMC Matador.
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, 1977 AMC Matador (298 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 47 more torque (in Nm) than 1960 Austin Princess. (251 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1977 AMC Matador will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1960 Austin Princess. 1977 AMC Matador has automatic transmission and 1960 Austin Princess has manual transmission. 1960 Austin Princess will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1977 AMC Matador will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1977 AMC Matador | 1960 Austin Princess | |
| Make | AMC | Austin |
| Model | Matador | Princess |
| Year Released | 1977 | 1960 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4982 cc | 3993 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 120 HP | 118 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3200 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 298 Nm | 251 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.4:1 | 8.3:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1861 kg | 2180 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5330 mm | 5470 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1970 mm | 1900 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1320 mm | 1780 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 3360 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 92 L | 54 L |
