1968 Lotus Elan vs. 1954 Mercury Montclair
To start off, 1968 Lotus Elan is newer by 14 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1954 Mercury Montclair. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1954 Mercury Montclair would be higher. At 4,192 cc (8 cylinders), 1954 Mercury Montclair is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1954 Mercury Montclair (158 HP @ 4400 RPM) has 42 more horse power than 1968 Lotus Elan. (116 HP @ 6250 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1954 Mercury Montclair should accelerate faster than 1968 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, 1954 Mercury Montclair (323 Nm) has 177 more torque (in Nm) than 1968 Lotus Elan. (146 Nm). This means 1954 Mercury Montclair will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1968 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
| 1968 Lotus Elan | 1954 Mercury Montclair | |
| Make | Lotus | Mercury |
| Model | Elan | Montclair |
| Year Released | 1968 | 1954 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1558 cc | 4192 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 116 HP | 158 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6250 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 146 Nm | 323 Nm |
| Engine Bore Size | 82.6 mm | 92.1 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 72.8 mm | 78.8 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Length | 4290 mm | 5250 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 1950 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1490 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2980 mm |
