1960 Austin A 55 vs. 1969 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1969 Lotus Elan is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1960 Austin A 55. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1960 Austin A 55 would be higher. At 1,558 cc (4 cylinders), 1969 Lotus Elan is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1969 Lotus Elan (108 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 57 more horse power than 1960 Austin A 55. (51 HP @ 4350 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1969 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1960 Austin A 55. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1960 Austin A 55 weights approximately 422 kg more than 1969 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, 1969 Lotus Elan (147 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 36 more torque (in Nm) than 1960 Austin A 55. (111 Nm @ 2100 RPM). This means 1969 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1960 Austin A 55.
Compare all specifications:
| 1960 Austin A 55 | 1969 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Austin | Lotus |
| Model | A 55 | Elan |
| Year Released | 1960 | 1969 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1489 cc | 1558 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 51 HP | 108 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4350 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 111 Nm | 147 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2100 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.3:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 3 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1122 kg | 700 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4530 mm | 3690 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1620 mm | 1430 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1170 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2530 mm | 2140 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 45 L | 45 L |
