1968 Lotus Elan vs. 1978 Nissan Skyline
To start off, 1978 Nissan Skyline is newer by 10 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 1,998 cc (6 cylinders), 1978 Nissan Skyline is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1968 Lotus Elan (116 HP @ 6250 RPM) has 10 more horse power than 1978 Nissan Skyline. (106 HP @ 5600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1968 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1978 Nissan Skyline. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Nissan Skyline weights approximately 340 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, 1978 Nissan Skyline (163 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 17 more torque (in Nm) than 1968 Lotus Elan. (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1978 Nissan Skyline will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1968 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
1968 Lotus Elan | 1978 Nissan Skyline | |
Make | Lotus | Nissan |
Model | Elan | Skyline |
Year Released | 1968 | 1978 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1558 cc | 1998 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 116 HP | 106 HP |
Engine RPM | 6250 RPM | 5600 RPM |
Torque | 146 Nm | 163 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Vehicle Weight | 850 kg | 1190 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4290 mm | 4610 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 1640 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1380 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2620 mm |