1959 Ford 17M vs. 1984 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1984 Lotus Esprit is newer by 25 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 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1984 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1984 Lotus Esprit (158 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 99 more horse power than 1959 Ford 17M. (59 HP @ 4250 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1984 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1959 Ford 17M. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1959 Ford 17M weights approximately 48 kg more than 1984 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, 1984 Lotus Esprit (217 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 97 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Ford 17M. (120 Nm @ 2200 RPM). This means 1984 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Ford 17M.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Ford 17M | 1984 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | 17M | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1984 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1697 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 59 HP | 158 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4250 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 120 Nm | 217 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 76.6 mm | 76.2 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 | 1067 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4380 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1510 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2610 mm | 2490 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 55 L | 31 L |
