1969 Lotus Elan vs. 1964 Reliant Rebel
To start off, 1969 Lotus Elan is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1964 Reliant Rebel. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1964 Reliant Rebel 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 (116 HP @ 6250 RPM) has 89 more horse power than 1964 Reliant Rebel. (27 HP @ 5250 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1969 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1964 Reliant Rebel. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1969 Lotus Elan weights approximately 329 kg more than 1964 Reliant Rebel. 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 104 more torque (in Nm) than 1964 Reliant Rebel. (42 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1969 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1964 Reliant Rebel.
Compare all specifications:
| 1969 Lotus Elan | 1964 Reliant Rebel | |
| Make | Lotus | Reliant |
| Model | Elan | Rebel |
| Year Released | 1969 | 1964 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1558 cc | 600 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 116 HP | 27 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6250 RPM | 5250 RPM |
| Torque | 146 Nm | 42 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82.6 mm | 56 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 72.8 mm | 61 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.3:1 | 8.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 850 kg | 521 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4290 mm | 3510 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 1480 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1420 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2270 mm |
