1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire vs. 1969 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1969 Lotus Elan is newer by 16 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire would be higher. At 3,435 cc (6 cylinders), 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire (125 HP @ 4400 RPM) has 9 more horse power than 1969 Lotus Elan. (116 HP @ 6250 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire should accelerate faster than 1969 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire weights approximately 725 kg more than 1969 Lotus Elan. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
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, 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire (239 Nm @ 1000 RPM) has 93 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Lotus Elan. (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
| 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire | 1969 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Armstrong Siddeley | Lotus |
| Model | Sapphire | Elan |
| Year Released | 1953 | 1969 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Convertible |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3435 cc | 1558 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 125 HP | 116 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 6250 RPM |
| Torque | 239 Nm | 146 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 7.0:1 | 10.3:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1575 kg | 850 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4910 mm | 4290 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1840 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1610 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2440 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 72 L | 45 L |
