1956 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire vs. 1985 Lotus Excel
To start off, 1985 Lotus Excel is newer by 29 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1956 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1956 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire would be higher. At 2,307 cc (6 cylinders), 1956 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1985 Lotus Excel (181 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 96 more horse power than 1956 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire. (85 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1985 Lotus Excel should accelerate faster than 1956 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1956 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire weights approximately 189 kg more than 1985 Lotus Excel.
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, 1985 Lotus Excel (232 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 72 more torque (in Nm) than 1956 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire. (160 Nm @ 1750 RPM). This means 1985 Lotus Excel will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1956 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire.
Compare all specifications:
| 1956 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire | 1985 Lotus Excel | |
| Make | Armstrong Siddeley | Lotus |
| Model | Sapphire | Excel |
| Year Released | 1956 | 1985 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2307 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 85 HP | 181 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 160 Nm | 232 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1750 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 70 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 100 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 7.5:1 | 10.9:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1360 kg | 1171 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4580 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1820 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1570 mm | 1020 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2490 mm |
