1984 Citroen Mehari vs. 1955 Fairthorpe Atom
To start off, 1984 Citroen Mehari is newer by 29 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1955 Fairthorpe Atom. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1955 Fairthorpe Atom would be higher. At 646 cc (2 cylinders), 1955 Fairthorpe Atom is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1955 Fairthorpe Atom (35 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 6 more horse power than 1984 Citroen Mehari. (29 HP @ 5750 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1955 Fairthorpe Atom should accelerate faster than 1984 Citroen Mehari. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1984 Citroen Mehari weights approximately 124 kg more than 1955 Fairthorpe Atom.
Because 1955 Fairthorpe Atom is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1955 Fairthorpe Atom. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1984 Citroen Mehari, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 1955 Fairthorpe Atom (49 Nm @ 3750 RPM) has 10 more torque (in Nm) than 1984 Citroen Mehari. (39 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1955 Fairthorpe Atom will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1984 Citroen Mehari.
Compare all specifications:
| 1984 Citroen Mehari | 1955 Fairthorpe Atom | |
| Make | Citroen | Fairthorpe |
| Model | Mehari | Atom |
| Year Released | 1984 | 1955 |
| Engine Position | Front | Rear |
| Engine Size | 602 cc | 646 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 2 cylinders | 2 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 29 HP | 35 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5750 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 39 Nm | 49 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 3750 RPM |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 555 kg | 431 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3530 mm | 3660 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1540 mm | 1530 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1640 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2410 mm | 2270 mm |
