1996 Caterham 7 vs. 1961 Fiat 850
To start off, 1996 Caterham 7 is newer by 35 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1961 Fiat 850. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1961 Fiat 850 would be higher. At 1,588 cc (4 cylinders), 1996 Caterham 7 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Caterham 7 (138 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 87 more horse power than 1961 Fiat 850. (51 HP @ 5800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1961 Fiat 850. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1961 Fiat 850 weights approximately 135 kg more than 1996 Caterham 7.
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, 1996 Caterham 7 (156 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 87 more torque (in Nm) than 1961 Fiat 850. (69 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1996 Caterham 7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1961 Fiat 850.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 Caterham 7 | 1961 Fiat 850 | |
| Make | Caterham | Fiat |
| Model | 7 | 850 |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1961 |
| Engine Position | Front | Rear |
| Engine Size | 1588 cc | 847 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 51 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7000 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 156 Nm | 69 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 9.2:1 |
| Top Speed | 203 km/hour | 153 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 478 kg | 613 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3110 mm | 3290 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1390 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 810 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2240 mm | 2010 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 36 L | 38 L |
