1964 Lotus Elan vs. 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240
To start off, 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240 is newer by 14 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 2,398 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1964 Lotus Elan (100 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 28 more horse power than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240. (72 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1964 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240 weights approximately 975 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 1 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240. (137 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1964 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240.
Compare all specifications:
| 1964 Lotus Elan | 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240 | |
| Make | Lotus | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | Elan | 240 |
| Year Released | 1964 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1498 cc | 2398 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 100 HP | 72 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 138 Nm | 137 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 90.9 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 72.7 mm | 92.4 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 21.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 8 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 590 kg | 1565 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3700 mm | 5360 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1430 mm | 1790 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1150 mm | 1450 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2140 mm | 3430 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 45 L | 65 L |
