1969 Lotus Elan vs. 1979 Volvo 66
To start off, 1979 Volvo 66 is newer by 10 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 1,558 cc (4 cylinders), 1969 Lotus Elan is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1969 Lotus Elan (108 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 52 more horse power than 1979 Volvo 66. (56 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1969 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1979 Volvo 66.
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 53 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Volvo 66. (94 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 1969 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Volvo 66.
Compare all specifications:
| 1969 Lotus Elan | 1979 Volvo 66 | |
| Make | Lotus | Volvo |
| Model | Elan | 66 |
| Year Released | 1969 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1558 cc | 1289 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 108 HP | 56 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 147 Nm | 94 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82.6 mm | 73 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 72.8 mm | 77 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 8.5:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Length | 3690 mm | 3910 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1430 mm | 1550 mm |
