1966 Austin A 40 vs. 1996 Lotus Elise
To start off, 1996 Lotus Elise is newer by 30 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1966 Austin A 40. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1966 Austin A 40 would be higher. At 1,796 cc (4 cylinders), 1996 Lotus Elise is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Lotus Elise (116 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 69 more horse power than 1966 Austin A 40. (47 HP @ 5100 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1996 Lotus Elise should accelerate faster than 1966 Austin A 40. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1966 Austin A 40 weights approximately 57 kg more than 1996 Lotus Elise.
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, 1996 Lotus Elise (169 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 88 more torque (in Nm) than 1966 Austin A 40. (81 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1996 Lotus Elise will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1966 Austin A 40.
Compare all specifications:
| 1966 Austin A 40 | 1996 Lotus Elise | |
| Make | Austin | Lotus |
| Model | A 40 | Elise |
| Year Released | 1966 | 1996 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1098 cc | 1796 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 47 HP | 116 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5100 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 81 Nm | 169 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.5:1 | 10.5:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 3 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 762 kg | 705 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3690 mm | 3730 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1520 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1150 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2220 mm | 2310 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 29 L | 40 L |
