1946 Daimler DE 36 vs. 1981 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1981 Lotus Esprit is newer by 35 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1946 Daimler DE 36. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1946 Daimler DE 36 would be higher. At 5,459 cc (8 cylinders), 1946 Daimler DE 36 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Lotus Esprit (159 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 9 more horse power than 1946 Daimler DE 36. (150 HP @ 3600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1946 Daimler DE 36. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1946 Daimler DE 36 weights approximately 1626 kg more than 1981 Lotus Esprit.
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, 1946 Daimler DE 36 (342 Nm @ 1200 RPM) has 121 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Lotus Esprit. (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1946 Daimler DE 36 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Lotus Esprit.
Compare all specifications:
| 1946 Daimler DE 36 | 1981 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Daimler | Lotus |
| Model | DE 36 | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1946 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 5459 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 150 HP | 159 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3600 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 342 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1200 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 85.1 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 120 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 6.3:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Top Speed | 137 km/hour | 217 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 2693 kg | 1067 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5650 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1840 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3740 mm | 2490 mm |
