1968 Lotus Elan vs. 1973 Mercury Comet
To start off, 1973 Mercury Comet is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1968 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1968 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 2,782 cc (6 cylinders), 1973 Mercury Comet is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1968 Lotus Elan (116 HP @ 6250 RPM) has 34 more horse power than 1973 Mercury Comet. (82 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1968 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1973 Mercury Comet. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Mercury Comet weights approximately 370 kg more 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, 1973 Mercury Comet (179 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 33 more torque (in Nm) than 1968 Lotus Elan. (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1973 Mercury Comet will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1968 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
| 1968 Lotus Elan | 1973 Mercury Comet | |
| Make | Lotus | Mercury |
| Model | Elan | Comet |
| Year Released | 1968 | 1973 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1558 cc | 2782 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 116 HP | 82 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6250 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 146 Nm | 179 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 1800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 850 kg | 1220 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4290 mm | 4800 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 1800 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2800 mm |
