1966 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III vs. 1980 Lotus Eclat
To start off, 1980 Lotus Eclat is newer by 14 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1966 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1966 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III would be higher. At 2,912 cc (6 cylinders), 1966 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Lotus Eclat (160 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 14 more horse power than 1966 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III. (146 HP @ 5250 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Lotus Eclat should accelerate faster than 1966 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1966 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III weights approximately 76 kg more than 1980 Lotus Eclat.
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, 1980 Lotus Eclat (217 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 52 more torque (in Nm) than 1966 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III. (165 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1980 Lotus Eclat will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1966 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III.
Compare all specifications:
| 1966 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III | 1980 Lotus Eclat | |
| Make | Austin-Healey | Lotus |
| Model | 3000 Mk III | Eclat |
| Year Released | 1966 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 2912 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 146 HP | 160 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5250 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 165 Nm | 217 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 83.4 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 88.9 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Top Speed | 195 km/hour | 212 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1180 kg | 1104 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4010 mm | 4460 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1540 mm | 1820 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1250 mm | 1210 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2340 mm | 2490 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 54 L | 67 L |
