1962 Fairthorpe Rockette vs. 1980 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1980 Lotus Esprit is newer by 18 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1962 Fairthorpe Rockette. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1962 Fairthorpe Rockette would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1980 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Lotus Esprit (210 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 138 more horse power than 1962 Fairthorpe Rockette. (72 HP @ 5600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1962 Fairthorpe Rockette. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 508 kg more than 1962 Fairthorpe Rockette. 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, 1980 Lotus Esprit (271 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 145 more torque (in Nm) than 1962 Fairthorpe Rockette. (126 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 1980 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1962 Fairthorpe Rockette.
Compare all specifications:
| 1962 Fairthorpe Rockette | 1980 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Fairthorpe | Lotus |
| Model | Rockette | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1962 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1596 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 72 HP | 210 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5600 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 126 Nm | 271 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.8:1 | 7.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 711 kg | 1219 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3740 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1480 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1170 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2240 mm | 2440 mm |
