1969 Lotus Elan vs. 1956 Morris Minor
To start off, 1969 Lotus Elan is newer by 13 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1956 Morris Minor. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1956 Morris Minor would be higher. At 1,558 cc (4 cylinders), 1969 Lotus Elan is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1969 Lotus Elan (118 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 83 more horse power than 1956 Morris Minor. (35 HP @ 4750 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1969 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1956 Morris Minor. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1969 Lotus Elan weights approximately 64 kg more than 1956 Morris Minor. 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, 1969 Lotus Elan (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 80 more torque (in Nm) than 1956 Morris Minor. (66 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1969 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1956 Morris Minor.
Compare all specifications:
| 1969 Lotus Elan | 1956 Morris Minor | |
| Make | Lotus | Morris |
| Model | Elan | Minor |
| Year Released | 1969 | 1956 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1558 cc | 948 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 118 HP | 35 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4750 RPM |
| Torque | 146 Nm | 66 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82.6 mm | 62.9 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 72.8 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 8.3:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 889 kg | 825 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4300 mm | 3770 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 1560 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1530 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2190 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 59 L | 45 L |
