1961 Jensen 541 vs. 1986 Lotus Excel
To start off, 1986 Lotus Excel is newer by 25 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1961 Jensen 541. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1961 Jensen 541 would be higher. At 3,993 cc (6 cylinders), 1961 Jensen 541 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1986 Lotus Excel (180 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 51 more horse power than 1961 Jensen 541. (129 HP @ 4100 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1986 Lotus Excel should accelerate faster than 1961 Jensen 541. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1961 Jensen 541 weights approximately 298 kg more than 1986 Lotus Excel.
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, 1961 Jensen 541 (310 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 86 more torque (in Nm) than 1986 Lotus Excel. (224 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1961 Jensen 541 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1986 Lotus Excel. 1986 Lotus Excel has automatic transmission and 1961 Jensen 541 has manual transmission. 1961 Jensen 541 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1986 Lotus Excel will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
1961 Jensen 541 | 1986 Lotus Excel | |
Make | Jensen | Lotus |
Model | 541 | Excel |
Year Released | 1961 | 1986 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 3993 cc | 2174 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 129 HP | 180 HP |
Engine RPM | 4100 RPM | 6500 RPM |
Torque | 310 Nm | 224 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 5000 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 87.3 mm | 95.3 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 111.1 mm | 76.2 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 7.6:1 | 10.9:1 |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1475 kg | 1177 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4530 mm | 4380 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1610 mm | 1820 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1360 mm | 1020 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2670 mm | 2490 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 72 L | 31 L |