1959 Lotus Elite vs. 1977 Toyota Corolla
To start off, 1977 Toyota Corolla is newer by 18 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Lotus Elite. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Lotus Elite would be higher. At 1,216 cc (4 cylinders), 1959 Lotus Elite is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1959 Lotus Elite (71 HP @ 6100 RPM) has 14 more horse power than 1977 Toyota Corolla. (57 HP @ 6600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1959 Lotus Elite should accelerate faster than 1977 Toyota Corolla. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1977 Toyota Corolla weights approximately 290 kg more than 1959 Lotus Elite.
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 Lotus Elite (104 Nm @ 3750 RPM) has 9 more torque (in Nm) than 1977 Toyota Corolla. (95 Nm @ 4200 RPM). This means 1959 Lotus Elite will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1977 Toyota Corolla.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Lotus Elite | 1977 Toyota Corolla | |
| Make | Lotus | Toyota |
| Model | Elite | Corolla |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1977 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1216 cc | 1166 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 71 HP | 57 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6100 RPM | 6600 RPM |
| Torque | 104 Nm | 95 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3750 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 580 kg | 870 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3710 mm | 4000 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1510 mm | 1580 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1190 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2240 mm | 2380 mm |
