1959 Ford Consul vs. 1971 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1971 Lotus Elan is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Ford Consul. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Ford Consul would be higher. At 1,702 cc (4 cylinders), 1959 Ford Consul is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Lotus Elan (126 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 79 more horse power than 1959 Ford Consul. (47 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1971 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1959 Ford Consul. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1959 Ford Consul weights approximately 219 kg more than 1971 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, 1971 Lotus Elan (153 Nm @ 5500 RPM) has 29 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Ford Consul. (124 Nm @ 2300 RPM). This means 1971 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Ford Consul.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Ford Consul | 1971 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Consul | Elan |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1971 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1702 cc | 1558 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 47 HP | 126 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 124 Nm | 153 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2300 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82.6 mm | 82.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 79.5 mm | 72.8 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1089 kg | 870 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4380 mm | 4270 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1750 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1570 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2660 mm | 2440 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 47 L | 59 L |
