1966 AC Cobra vs. 1985 Lotus Excel
To start off, 1985 Lotus Excel is newer by 19 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1966 AC Cobra. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1966 AC Cobra would be higher. At 6,997 cc (8 cylinders), 1966 AC Cobra is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1966 AC Cobra (410 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 229 more horse power than 1985 Lotus Excel. (181 HP @ 6500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1966 AC Cobra should accelerate faster than 1985 Lotus Excel. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1985 Lotus Excel weights approximately 24 kg more than 1966 AC Cobra.
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, 1966 AC Cobra (651 Nm @ 3700 RPM) has 419 more torque (in Nm) than 1985 Lotus Excel. (232 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1966 AC Cobra will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1985 Lotus Excel.
Compare all specifications:
| 1966 AC Cobra | 1985 Lotus Excel | |
| Make | AC | Lotus |
| Model | Cobra | Excel |
| Year Released | 1966 | 1985 |
| Body Type | Roadster | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 6997 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 410 HP | 181 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 651 Nm | 232 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3700 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 107.7 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 96 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 11.5:1 | 10.9:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Top Speed | 266 km/hour | 217 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1147 kg | 1171 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3970 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1820 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1250 mm | 1020 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2290 mm | 2490 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 68 L | 66 L |
