1962 Lotus Elan vs. 1975 Nissan Silvia
To start off, 1975 Nissan Silvia is newer by 13 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1962 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1962 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 1,952 cc (4 cylinders), 1975 Nissan Silvia is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1962 Lotus Elan (100 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 6 more horse power than 1975 Nissan Silvia. (94 HP @ 5600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1962 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1975 Nissan Silvia. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1975 Nissan Silvia weights approximately 480 kg more than 1962 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, both vehicles can yield 138 Nm of torque. So under normal driving conditions, the ability to climb up hills and pull heavy equipment should be relatively similar for both vehicles.
Compare all specifications:
| 1962 Lotus Elan | 1975 Nissan Silvia | |
| Make | Lotus | Nissan |
| Model | Elan | Silvia |
| Year Released | 1962 | 1975 |
| Body Type | Convertible | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1496 cc | 1952 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 100 HP | 94 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 138 Nm | 138 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3200 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 590 kg | 1070 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3700 mm | 4140 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1430 mm | 1610 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1110 mm | 1310 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2140 mm | 2350 mm |
