1959 Ford Fairlane vs. 1970 Lotus Elan

To start off, 1970 Lotus Elan is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Ford Fairlane. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Ford Fairlane would be higher. At 5,769 cc (8 cylinders), 1959 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1959 Ford Fairlane (168 HP @ 4600 RPM) has 60 more horse power than 1970 Lotus Elan. (108 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1959 Ford Fairlane should accelerate faster than 1970 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1959 Ford Fairlane weights approximately 1394 kg more than 1970 Lotus Elan. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.

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. 1959 Ford Fairlane has automatic transmission and 1970 Lotus Elan has manual transmission. 1970 Lotus Elan will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1959 Ford Fairlane will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.

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