1956 Citroen DS vs. 1966 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1966 Lotus Elan is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1956 Citroen DS. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1956 Citroen DS would be higher. At 1,911 cc (4 cylinders), 1956 Citroen DS is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1966 Lotus Elan (115 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 40 more horse power than 1956 Citroen DS. (75 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1966 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1956 Citroen DS. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1956 Citroen DS weights approximately 541 kg more than 1966 Lotus Elan.
Because 1966 Lotus Elan is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1966 Lotus Elan. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1956 Citroen DS, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 1966 Lotus Elan (147 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 10 more torque (in Nm) than 1956 Citroen DS. (137 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1966 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1956 Citroen DS.
Compare all specifications:
| 1956 Citroen DS | 1966 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Citroen | Lotus |
| Model | DS | Elan |
| Year Released | 1956 | 1966 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1911 cc | 1557 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 75 HP | 115 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 137 Nm | 147 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 78 mm | 82.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 100 mm | 72.8 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 7.5:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Top Speed | 142 km/hour | 190 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1237 kg | 696 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4810 mm | 3700 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1800 mm | 1430 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1180 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3130 mm | 2140 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 63 L | 45 L |
