1966 Lotus Elan vs. 1972 Toyota Century
To start off, 1972 Toyota Century is newer by 6 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 2,981 cc (8 cylinders), 1972 Toyota Century is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1972 Toyota Century (127 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 12 more horse power than 1966 Lotus Elan. (115 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1972 Toyota Century should accelerate faster than 1966 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1972 Toyota Century weights approximately 1004 kg more than 1966 Lotus Elan. 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, 1972 Toyota Century (236 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 89 more torque (in Nm) than 1966 Lotus Elan. (147 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1972 Toyota Century will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1966 Lotus Elan. 1972 Toyota Century has automatic transmission and 1966 Lotus Elan has manual transmission. 1966 Lotus Elan will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1972 Toyota Century will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1966 Lotus Elan | 1972 Toyota Century | |
| Make | Lotus | Toyota |
| Model | Elan | Century |
| Year Released | 1966 | 1972 |
| Body Type | Convertible | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1557 cc | 2981 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 115 HP | 127 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 147 Nm | 236 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 696 kg | 1700 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3700 mm | 4990 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1430 mm | 1900 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1180 mm | 1470 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2140 mm | 2870 mm |
