1955 Ford Prefect vs. 1969 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1969 Lotus Elan is newer by 14 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1955 Ford Prefect. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1955 Ford Prefect would be higher. At 1,558 cc (4 cylinders), 1969 Lotus Elan is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1969 Lotus Elan (118 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 87 more horse power than 1955 Ford Prefect. (31 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1969 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1955 Ford Prefect. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1969 Lotus Elan weights approximately 124 kg more than 1955 Ford Prefect. 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, 1969 Lotus Elan (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 74 more torque (in Nm) than 1955 Ford Prefect. (72 Nm @ 2150 RPM). This means 1969 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1955 Ford Prefect.
Compare all specifications:
1955 Ford Prefect | 1969 Lotus Elan | |
Make | Ford | Lotus |
Model | Prefect | Elan |
Year Released | 1955 | 1969 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1172 cc | 1558 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 31 HP | 118 HP |
Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 6000 RPM |
Torque | 72 Nm | 146 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2150 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 63.5 mm | 82.6 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 92.5 mm | 72.8 mm |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
Vehicle Weight | 765 kg | 889 kg |
Vehicle Length | 3850 mm | 4300 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1550 mm | 1680 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1500 mm | 1200 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2220 mm | 2440 mm |