1959 Jaguar XK 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 Jaguar XK. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Jaguar XK would be higher. At 3,781 cc (6 cylinders), 1959 Jaguar XK is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1959 Jaguar XK (265 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 165 more horse power than 1963 Lotus Elan. (100 HP @ 5700 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1959 Jaguar XK should accelerate faster than 1963 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1959 Jaguar XK weights approximately 879 kg more than 1963 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. Let's talk about torque, 1959 Jaguar XK (353 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 215 more torque (in Nm) than 1963 Lotus Elan. (138 Nm @ 3750 RPM). This means 1959 Jaguar XK will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1963 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
1959 Jaguar XK | 1963 Lotus Elan | |
Make | Jaguar | Lotus |
Model | XK | Elan |
Year Released | 1959 | 1963 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 3781 cc | 1498 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 265 HP | 100 HP |
Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5700 RPM |
Torque | 353 Nm | 138 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3750 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 87.1 mm | 81 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 106 mm | 72.7 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 9.5:1 |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 2 seats | 2 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1473 kg | 594 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4500 mm | 3700 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1640 mm | 1430 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1150 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2600 mm | 2140 mm |