1966 Lotus Elan vs. 1969 Mazda Luce
To start off, 1969 Mazda Luce is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1966 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1966 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 1,557 cc (4 cylinders), 1966 Lotus Elan is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1966 Lotus Elan (115 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 45 more horse power than 1969 Mazda Luce. (70 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1966 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1969 Mazda Luce. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1969 Mazda Luce weights approximately 454 kg more than 1966 Lotus Elan.
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 Lotus Elan (147 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 29 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Mazda Luce. (118 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 1966 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Mazda Luce.
Compare all specifications:
| 1966 Lotus Elan | 1969 Mazda Luce | |
| Make | Lotus | Mazda |
| Model | Elan | Luce |
| Year Released | 1966 | 1969 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1557 cc | 1489 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 115 HP | 70 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 147 Nm | 118 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 696 kg | 1150 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3700 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1430 mm | 1640 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1180 mm | 1440 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2140 mm | 2510 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 45 L | 57 L |
