1958 Ford Prefect 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 Ford Prefect. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1958 Ford Prefect would be higher. At 1,558 cc (4 cylinders), 1969 Lotus Elan is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1969 Lotus Elan (108 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 77 more horse power than 1958 Ford Prefect. (31 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1969 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1958 Ford Prefect. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1958 Ford Prefect weights approximately 65 kg more than 1969 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, 1969 Lotus Elan (147 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 76 more torque (in Nm) than 1958 Ford Prefect. (71 Nm @ 2150 RPM). This means 1969 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1958 Ford Prefect.
Compare all specifications:
| 1958 Ford Prefect | 1969 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Prefect | Elan |
| Year Released | 1958 | 1969 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1172 cc | 1558 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 31 HP | 108 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 71 Nm | 147 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2150 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 63.5 mm | 82.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 92.5 mm | 72.8 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 765 kg | 700 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3850 mm | 3690 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1550 mm | 1430 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1500 mm | 1170 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2220 mm | 2140 mm |
