1968 Lotus Elan vs. 1979 Toyota Corolla
To start off, 1979 Toyota Corolla is newer by 11 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 1,558 cc (4 cylinders), 1968 Lotus Elan is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1968 Lotus Elan (104 HP @ 6250 RPM) has 36 more horse power than 1979 Toyota Corolla. (68 HP @ 5600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1968 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1979 Toyota Corolla. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Toyota Corolla weights approximately 455 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. 1979 Toyota Corolla has automatic transmission and 1968 Lotus Elan has manual transmission. 1968 Lotus Elan will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1979 Toyota Corolla will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1968 Lotus Elan | 1979 Toyota Corolla | |
| Make | Lotus | Toyota |
| Model | Elan | Corolla |
| Year Released | 1968 | 1979 |
| Body Type | Convertible | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1558 cc | 1290 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 104 HP | 68 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6250 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 430 kg | 885 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3360 mm | 4110 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1430 mm | 1630 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1100 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2240 mm | 2410 mm |
