1955 Fairthorpe Atom vs. 1971 Lotus Seven
To start off, 1971 Lotus Seven is newer by 16 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1955 Fairthorpe Atom. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1955 Fairthorpe Atom would be higher. At 1,340 cc (4 cylinders), 1971 Lotus Seven is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Lotus Seven (85 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 50 more horse power than 1955 Fairthorpe Atom. (35 HP @ 5700 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1971 Lotus Seven should accelerate faster than 1955 Fairthorpe Atom. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Lotus Seven weights approximately 163 kg more than 1955 Fairthorpe Atom. 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, 1971 Lotus Seven (92 Nm) has 43 more torque (in Nm) than 1955 Fairthorpe Atom. (49 Nm). This means 1971 Lotus Seven will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1955 Fairthorpe Atom.
Compare all specifications:
| 1955 Fairthorpe Atom | 1971 Lotus Seven | |
| Make | Fairthorpe | Lotus |
| Model | Atom | Seven |
| Year Released | 1955 | 1971 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 646 cc | 1340 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 2 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 35 HP | 85 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 49 Nm | 92 Nm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 6.5:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 431 kg | 594 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3660 mm | 3720 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1530 mm | 1540 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1090 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2270 mm | 2240 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 20 L | 34 L |
