1956 Ford Popular vs. 1963 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1963 Lotus Elan is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1956 Ford Popular. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1956 Ford Popular would be higher. At 1,498 cc (4 cylinders), 1963 Lotus Elan is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1963 Lotus Elan (100 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 74 more horse power than 1956 Ford Popular. (26 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1963 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1956 Ford Popular. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1956 Ford Popular weights approximately 141 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 75 more torque (in Nm) than 1956 Ford Popular. (63 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1963 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1956 Ford Popular.
Compare all specifications:
| 1956 Ford Popular | 1963 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Popular | Elan |
| Year Released | 1956 | 1963 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1172 cc | 1498 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 26 HP | 100 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 63 Nm | 138 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 3750 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 735 kg | 594 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3880 mm | 3700 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1440 mm | 1430 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1630 mm | 1150 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2300 mm | 2140 mm |
