1959 Austin A 135 vs. 1980 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1980 Lotus Esprit is newer by 21 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Austin A 135. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Austin A 135 would be higher. At 3,993 cc (6 cylinders), 1959 Austin A 135 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Lotus Esprit (210 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 60 more horse power than 1959 Austin A 135. (150 HP @ 4100 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1959 Austin A 135. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1959 Austin A 135 weights approximately 861 kg more than 1980 Lotus Esprit.
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, 1959 Austin A 135 (308 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 37 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Lotus Esprit. (271 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1959 Austin A 135 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Lotus Esprit.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Austin A 135 | 1980 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Austin | Lotus |
| Model | A 135 | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 3993 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 150 HP | 210 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4100 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 308 Nm | 271 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 87.3 mm | 95.4 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 111.1 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 7.6:1 | 7.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2080 kg | 1219 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5110 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1680 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3100 mm | 2440 mm |
