1963 Lotus Elan vs. 1958 Porsche 356
To start off, 1963 Lotus Elan is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1958 Porsche 356. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1958 Porsche 356 would be higher. Both 1963 Lotus Elan and 1958 Porsche 356 are equipped with a 1,498 cc engine. In terms of performance, both vehicles can yield 100 horse power. So under normal driving conditions, the acceleration of both vehicles should be relatively similar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1958 Porsche 356 weights approximately 261 kg more than 1963 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, 1963 Lotus Elan (138 Nm @ 3750 RPM) has 17 more torque (in Nm) than 1958 Porsche 356. (121 Nm @ 5200 RPM). This means 1963 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1958 Porsche 356.
Compare all specifications:
1963 Lotus Elan | 1958 Porsche 356 | |
Make | Lotus | Porsche |
Model | Elan | 356 |
Year Released | 1963 | 1958 |
Engine Position | Front | Rear |
Engine Size | 1498 cc | 1498 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 100 HP | 100 HP |
Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 6200 RPM |
Torque | 138 Nm | 121 Nm |
Torque RPM | 3750 RPM | 5200 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 85 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 72.7 mm | 66 mm |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 594 kg | 855 kg |
Vehicle Length | 3700 mm | 3960 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1430 mm | 1680 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1150 mm | 1320 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2140 mm | 2110 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 45 L | 52 L |