1969 Lotus Elan vs. 1970 Opel Manta
To start off, 1970 Opel Manta is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1969 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1969 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 1,584 cc (4 cylinders), 1970 Opel Manta is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1969 Lotus Elan (108 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 41 more horse power than 1970 Opel Manta. (67 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1969 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1970 Opel Manta. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1970 Opel Manta weights approximately 245 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, 1969 Lotus Elan (147 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 39 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Opel Manta. (108 Nm @ 3400 RPM). This means 1969 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Opel Manta.
Compare all specifications:
| 1969 Lotus Elan | 1970 Opel Manta | |
| Make | Lotus | Opel |
| Model | Elan | Manta |
| Year Released | 1969 | 1970 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1558 cc | 1584 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 108 HP | 67 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 147 Nm | 108 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82.6 mm | 85.1 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 72.8 mm | 69.8 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 700 kg | 945 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3690 mm | 4300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1430 mm | 1640 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1170 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2140 mm | 2440 mm |
