1966 Ford 12 M 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 Ford 12 M. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1966 Ford 12 M would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1985 Lotus Excel is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1985 Lotus Excel (181 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 111 more horse power than 1966 Ford 12 M. (70 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1985 Lotus Excel should accelerate faster than 1966 Ford 12 M. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1985 Lotus Excel weights approximately 276 kg more than 1966 Ford 12 M. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
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, 1985 Lotus Excel (232 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 97 more torque (in Nm) than 1966 Ford 12 M. (135 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1985 Lotus Excel will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1966 Ford 12 M.
Compare all specifications:
| 1966 Ford 12 M | 1985 Lotus Excel | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | 12 M | Excel |
| Year Released | 1966 | 1985 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1699 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 70 HP | 181 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 135 Nm | 232 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82.5 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 82 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 895 kg | 1171 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4320 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1610 mm | 1820 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1410 mm | 1020 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2530 mm | 2490 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 68 L | 66 L |
