1959 Ford Zephyr 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 Zephyr. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Ford Zephyr would be higher. At 2,552 cc (6 cylinders), 1959 Ford Zephyr is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Lotus Elan (126 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 50 more horse power than 1959 Ford Zephyr. (76 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1971 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1959 Ford Zephyr. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1959 Ford Zephyr weights approximately 300 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, 1959 Ford Zephyr (187 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 34 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Lotus Elan. (153 Nm @ 5500 RPM). This means 1959 Ford Zephyr will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Ford Zephyr | 1971 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Zephyr | Elan |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1971 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2552 cc | 1558 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 76 HP | 126 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 187 Nm | 153 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1170 kg | 870 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4560 mm | 4270 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1520 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2720 mm | 2440 mm |
