1969 Lotus Elan vs. 1966 Mercury Comet
To start off, 1969 Lotus Elan is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1966 Mercury Comet. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1966 Mercury Comet would be higher. At 3,279 cc (6 cylinders), 1966 Mercury Comet is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1966 Mercury Comet (118 HP @ 4400 RPM) has 10 more horse power than 1969 Lotus Elan. (108 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1966 Mercury Comet should accelerate faster than 1969 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1966 Mercury Comet weights approximately 962 kg more than 1969 Lotus Elan. 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, 1966 Mercury Comet (258 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 111 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Lotus Elan. (147 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1966 Mercury Comet will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
1969 Lotus Elan | 1966 Mercury Comet | |
Make | Lotus | Mercury |
Model | Elan | Comet |
Year Released | 1969 | 1966 |
Body Type | Convertible | Convertible |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1558 cc | 3279 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 108 HP | 118 HP |
Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4400 RPM |
Torque | 147 Nm | 258 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2400 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 82.6 mm | 103 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 10.5:1 |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
Vehicle Weight | 700 kg | 1662 kg |
Vehicle Length | 3690 mm | 5180 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1430 mm | 1880 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1170 mm | 1380 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2140 mm | 2950 mm |