1969 Lotus Elan vs. 1978 Toyota Celica
To start off, 1978 Toyota Celica is newer by 9 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 1,967 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Toyota Celica is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, both vehicles can yield 118 horse power. So under normal driving conditions, the acceleration of both vehicles should be relatively similar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Toyota Celica weights approximately 211 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, 1978 Toyota Celica (152 Nm @ 5200 RPM) has 6 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Lotus Elan. (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1978 Toyota Celica will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
| 1969 Lotus Elan | 1978 Toyota Celica | |
| Make | Lotus | Toyota |
| Model | Elan | Celica |
| Year Released | 1969 | 1978 |
| Body Type | Convertible | Hatchback |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1558 cc | 1967 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 118 HP | 118 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 146 Nm | 152 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82.6 mm | 88.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 72.8 mm | 80 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 9.7:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 3 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 889 kg | 1100 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4300 mm | 4340 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 1650 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2510 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 59 L | 60 L |
