1966 Ford Zephyr vs. 1989 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1989 Lotus Esprit is newer by 23 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1966 Ford Zephyr. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1966 Ford Zephyr would be higher. At 2,172 cc (4 cylinders), 1989 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 Lotus Esprit (172 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 84 more horse power than 1966 Ford Zephyr. (88 HP @ 4750 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1989 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1966 Ford Zephyr. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1966 Ford Zephyr weights approximately 75 kg more than 1989 Lotus Esprit.
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, 1989 Lotus Esprit (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 54 more torque (in Nm) than 1966 Ford Zephyr. (167 Nm @ 2750 RPM). This means 1989 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1966 Ford Zephyr.
Compare all specifications:
| 1966 Ford Zephyr | 1989 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Zephyr | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1966 | 1989 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1995 cc | 2172 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 88 HP | 172 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4750 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 167 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2750 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1250 kg | 1175 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4710 mm | 4350 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1820 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1490 mm | 1160 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2940 mm | 2440 mm |
