1968 Alfa Romeo GTA vs. 1971 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1971 Lotus Elan is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1968 Alfa Romeo GTA. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1968 Alfa Romeo GTA would be higher. At 1,558 cc (4 cylinders), 1971 Lotus Elan is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Lotus Elan (126 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 33 more horse power than 1968 Alfa Romeo GTA. (93 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1971 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1968 Alfa Romeo GTA. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Lotus Elan weights approximately 80 kg more than 1968 Alfa Romeo GTA. 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, 1971 Lotus Elan (153 Nm @ 5500 RPM) has 13 more torque (in Nm) than 1968 Alfa Romeo GTA. (140 Nm @ 3200 RPM). This means 1971 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1968 Alfa Romeo GTA.
Compare all specifications:
| 1968 Alfa Romeo GTA | 1971 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Alfa Romeo | Lotus |
| Model | GTA | Elan |
| Year Released | 1968 | 1971 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Convertible |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1290 cc | 1558 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 93 HP | 126 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 140 Nm | 153 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3200 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 78 mm | 82.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 67.5 mm | 72.8 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 10.3:1 |
| Top Speed | 175 km/hour | 193 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 790 kg | 870 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4090 mm | 4270 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1590 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1320 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2360 mm | 2440 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 46 L | 59 L |
