1969 Lotus Elan vs. 1976 Ford Taunus
To start off, 1976 Ford Taunus is newer by 7 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 2,294 cc (6 cylinders), 1976 Ford Taunus is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1969 Lotus Elan (108 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 2 more horse power than 1976 Ford Taunus. (106 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1969 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1976 Ford Taunus. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Ford Taunus weights approximately 416 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, 1976 Ford Taunus (177 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 30 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Lotus Elan. (147 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1976 Ford Taunus will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Lotus Elan. 1976 Ford Taunus has automatic transmission and 1969 Lotus Elan has manual transmission. 1969 Lotus Elan will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1976 Ford Taunus will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1969 Lotus Elan | 1976 Ford Taunus | |
| Make | Lotus | Ford |
| Model | Elan | Taunus |
| Year Released | 1969 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1558 cc | 2294 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 108 HP | 106 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 147 Nm | 177 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82.6 mm | 90 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 72.8 mm | 60.1 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 700 kg | 1116 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3690 mm | 4350 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1430 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1170 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2140 mm | 2580 mm |
