1949 Armstrong Siddeley Whitley vs. 1980 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1980 Lotus Esprit is newer by 31 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1949 Armstrong Siddeley Whitley. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1949 Armstrong Siddeley Whitley would be higher. At 2,309 cc (6 cylinders), 1949 Armstrong Siddeley Whitley is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Lotus Esprit (158 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 83 more horse power than 1949 Armstrong Siddeley Whitley. (75 HP @ 4200 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1949 Armstrong Siddeley Whitley. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1949 Armstrong Siddeley Whitley weights approximately 310 kg more than 1980 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, 1980 Lotus Esprit (222 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 77 more torque (in Nm) than 1949 Armstrong Siddeley Whitley. (145 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1980 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1949 Armstrong Siddeley Whitley.
Compare all specifications:
| 1949 Armstrong Siddeley Whitley | 1980 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Armstrong Siddeley | Lotus |
| Model | Whitley | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1949 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 2309 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 75 HP | 158 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4200 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 145 Nm | 222 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 70 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 100 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1430 kg | 1120 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4710 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1610 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2930 mm | 2450 mm |
