1959 Austin A 55 vs. 1980 Lotus Eclat
To start off, 1980 Lotus Eclat is newer by 21 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Austin A 55. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Austin A 55 would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1980 Lotus Eclat is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Lotus Eclat (160 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 106 more horse power than 1959 Austin A 55. (54 HP @ 4350 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Lotus Eclat should accelerate faster than 1959 Austin A 55. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1959 Austin A 55 weights approximately 16 kg more than 1980 Lotus Eclat.
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, 1980 Lotus Eclat (217 Nm) has 149 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Austin A 55. (68 Nm). This means 1980 Lotus Eclat will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Austin A 55.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Austin A 55 | 1980 Lotus Eclat | |
| Make | Austin | Lotus |
| Model | A 55 | Eclat |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1489 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 54 HP | 160 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4350 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 68 Nm | 217 Nm |
| Engine Bore Size | 73 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 88.9 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.3:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Top Speed | 122 km/hour | 212 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1120 kg | 1104 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4460 mm | 4460 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1620 mm | 1820 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1210 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2530 mm | 2490 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 45 L | 67 L |
