1949 Allard J1 vs. 1969 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1969 Lotus Elan is newer by 20 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1949 Allard J1. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1949 Allard J1 would be higher. At 3,622 cc (8 cylinders), 1949 Allard J1 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1969 Lotus Elan (118 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 33 more horse power than 1949 Allard J1. (85 HP @ 3800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1969 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1949 Allard J1. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1949 Allard J1 weights approximately 131 kg more than 1969 Lotus Elan.
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, 1949 Allard J1 (203 Nm @ 1500 RPM) has 57 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Lotus Elan. (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1949 Allard J1 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
| 1949 Allard J1 | 1969 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Allard | Lotus |
| Model | J1 | Elan |
| Year Released | 1949 | 1969 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3622 cc | 1558 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 85 HP | 118 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 203 Nm | 146 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 77.8 mm | 82.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 95.3 mm | 72.8 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1020 kg | 889 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3690 mm | 4300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1480 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1510 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2440 mm |
