1964 Lotus Elan vs. 1970 Opel Kadett
To start off, 1970 Opel Kadett is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1964 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1964 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 1,498 cc (4 cylinders), 1964 Lotus Elan is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1964 Lotus Elan (100 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 56 more horse power than 1970 Opel Kadett. (44 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1964 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1970 Opel Kadett. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1970 Opel Kadett weights approximately 165 kg more than 1964 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, 1964 Lotus Elan (138 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 62 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Opel Kadett. (76 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 1964 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Opel Kadett.
Compare all specifications:
| 1964 Lotus Elan | 1970 Opel Kadett | |
| Make | Lotus | Opel |
| Model | Elan | Kadett |
| Year Released | 1964 | 1970 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1498 cc | 1078 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 100 HP | 44 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 138 Nm | 76 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 590 kg | 755 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3700 mm | 4190 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1430 mm | 1580 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1150 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2140 mm | 2420 mm |
