1985 Caterham 1700 vs. 1954 Peugeot 203
To start off, 1985 Caterham 1700 is newer by 31 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1954 Peugeot 203. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1954 Peugeot 203 would be higher. At 1,692 cc (4 cylinders), 1985 Caterham 1700 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1985 Caterham 1700 (135 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 91 more horse power than 1954 Peugeot 203. (44 HP @ 4600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1985 Caterham 1700 should accelerate faster than 1954 Peugeot 203. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1954 Peugeot 203 weights approximately 437 kg more than 1985 Caterham 1700.
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, 1985 Caterham 1700 (165 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 85 more torque (in Nm) than 1954 Peugeot 203. (80 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1985 Caterham 1700 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1954 Peugeot 203.
Compare all specifications:
| 1985 Caterham 1700 | 1954 Peugeot 203 | |
| Make | Caterham | Peugeot |
| Model | 1700 | 203 |
| Year Released | 1985 | 1954 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1692 cc | 1290 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 135 HP | 44 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4600 RPM |
| Torque | 165 Nm | 80 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 543 kg | 980 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3400 mm | 4360 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1090 mm | 1470 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2240 mm | 2580 mm |
