1954 Ford Vedette vs. 1963 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1963 Lotus Elan is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1954 Ford Vedette. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1954 Ford Vedette would be higher. At 2,158 cc (8 cylinders), 1954 Ford Vedette is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1963 Lotus Elan (100 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 34 more horse power than 1954 Ford Vedette. (66 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1963 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1954 Ford Vedette. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1954 Ford Vedette weights approximately 531 kg more than 1963 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, 1963 Lotus Elan (138 Nm @ 3750 RPM) has 16 more torque (in Nm) than 1954 Ford Vedette. (122 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1963 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1954 Ford Vedette.
Compare all specifications:
| 1954 Ford Vedette | 1963 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Vedette | Elan |
| Year Released | 1954 | 1963 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2158 cc | 1498 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 66 HP | 100 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 122 Nm | 138 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 3750 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1125 kg | 594 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4680 mm | 3700 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1430 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1150 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2700 mm | 2140 mm |
