1962 Lotus Elan vs. 1959 Rover P5
To start off, 1962 Lotus Elan is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Rover P5. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Rover P5 would be higher. At 2,995 cc (6 cylinders), 1959 Rover P5 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1959 Rover P5 (106 HP @ 4500 RPM) has 6 more horse power than 1962 Lotus Elan. (100 HP @ 5700 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1959 Rover P5 should accelerate faster than 1962 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1959 Rover P5 weights approximately 994 kg more than 1962 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 Rover P5 (222 Nm @ 1500 RPM) has 84 more torque (in Nm) than 1962 Lotus Elan. (138 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1959 Rover P5 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1962 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
1962 Lotus Elan | 1959 Rover P5 | |
Make | Lotus | Rover |
Model | Elan | P5 |
Year Released | 1962 | 1959 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1496 cc | 2995 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 100 HP | 106 HP |
Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 4500 RPM |
Torque | 138 Nm | 222 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 1500 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 77.8 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 72.7 mm | 105 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 8.8:1 |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 590 kg | 1584 kg |
Vehicle Length | 3700 mm | 4750 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1430 mm | 1790 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1110 mm | 1540 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2140 mm | 2820 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 45 L | 63 L |