1959 Ford 17M vs. 1963 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1963 Lotus Elan is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Ford 17M. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Ford 17M would be higher. At 1,697 cc (4 cylinders), 1959 Ford 17M is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1963 Lotus Elan (100 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 41 more horse power than 1959 Ford 17M. (59 HP @ 4250 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1963 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1959 Ford 17M. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1959 Ford 17M weights approximately 521 kg more than 1963 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, 1963 Lotus Elan (138 Nm @ 3750 RPM) has 18 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Ford 17M. (120 Nm @ 2200 RPM). This means 1963 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Ford 17M.
Compare all specifications:
1959 Ford 17M | 1963 Lotus Elan | |
Make | Ford | Lotus |
Model | 17M | Elan |
Year Released | 1959 | 1963 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1697 cc | 1498 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 59 HP | 100 HP |
Engine RPM | 4250 RPM | 5700 RPM |
Torque | 120 Nm | 138 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 3750 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 81 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 76.6 mm | 72.7 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 7.1:1 | 9.5:1 |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1115 kg | 594 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4380 mm | 3700 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 1430 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1510 mm | 1150 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2610 mm | 2140 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 55 L | 45 L |