1957 Ford Vedette vs. 1966 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1966 Lotus Elan is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1957 Ford Vedette. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1957 Ford Vedette would be higher. At 2,156 cc (8 cylinders), 1957 Ford Vedette is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1966 Lotus Elan (115 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 49 more horse power than 1957 Ford Vedette. (66 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1966 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1957 Ford Vedette. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1957 Ford Vedette weights approximately 429 kg more than 1966 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, 1966 Lotus Elan (147 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 25 more torque (in Nm) than 1957 Ford Vedette. (122 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1966 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1957 Ford Vedette.
Compare all specifications:
| 1957 Ford Vedette | 1966 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Vedette | Elan |
| Year Released | 1957 | 1966 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2156 cc | 1557 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 66 HP | 115 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 122 Nm | 147 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1125 kg | 696 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4680 mm | 3700 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1430 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1180 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2700 mm | 2140 mm |
