1969 Lotus Elan vs. 1963 Rover P6
To start off, 1969 Lotus Elan is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1963 Rover P6. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1963 Rover P6 would be higher. At 1,978 cc (4 cylinders), 1963 Rover P6 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1969 Lotus Elan (116 HP @ 6250 RPM) has 27 more horse power than 1963 Rover P6. (89 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1969 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1963 Rover P6. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1963 Rover P6 weights approximately 430 kg more than 1969 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, 1963 Rover P6 (153 Nm @ 2750 RPM) has 7 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Lotus Elan. (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1963 Rover P6 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
| 1969 Lotus Elan | 1963 Rover P6 | |
| Make | Lotus | Rover |
| Model | Elan | P6 |
| Year Released | 1969 | 1963 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1558 cc | 1978 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 116 HP | 89 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6250 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 146 Nm | 153 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2750 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82.6 mm | 85.7 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 72.8 mm | 85.7 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.3:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 3 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 850 kg | 1280 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4290 mm | 4540 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2630 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 45 L | 54 L |
