1958 BMW 503 vs. 1969 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1969 Lotus Elan is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1958 BMW 503. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1958 BMW 503 would be higher. At 3,168 cc (8 cylinders), 1958 BMW 503 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1958 BMW 503 (138 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 20 more horse power than 1969 Lotus Elan. (118 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1958 BMW 503 should accelerate faster than 1969 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1958 BMW 503 weights approximately 611 kg more than 1969 Lotus Elan. 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, 1958 BMW 503 (222 Nm @ 2500 RPM) has 76 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Lotus Elan. (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1958 BMW 503 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
1958 BMW 503 | 1969 Lotus Elan | |
Make | BMW | Lotus |
Model | 503 | Elan |
Year Released | 1958 | 1969 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 3168 cc | 1558 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | V | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 138 HP | 118 HP |
Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 6000 RPM |
Torque | 222 Nm | 146 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 82 mm | 82.6 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 75 mm | 72.8 mm |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1500 kg | 889 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4760 mm | 4300 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1680 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1200 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2440 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 75 L | 59 L |