1969 Lotus Elan vs. 1980 Toyota Century
To start off, 1980 Toyota Century is newer by 11 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 3,375 cc (8 cylinders), 1980 Toyota Century is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Toyota Century (167 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 51 more horse power than 1969 Lotus Elan. (116 HP @ 6250 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Toyota Century should accelerate faster than 1969 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Toyota Century weights approximately 955 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, 1980 Toyota Century (270 Nm @ 4400 RPM) has 124 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Lotus Elan. (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1980 Toyota Century will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Lotus Elan. 1980 Toyota Century 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. 1980 Toyota Century will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1969 Lotus Elan | 1980 Toyota Century | |
| Make | Lotus | Toyota |
| Model | Elan | Century |
| Year Released | 1969 | 1980 |
| Body Type | Convertible | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1558 cc | 3375 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 116 HP | 167 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6250 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 146 Nm | 270 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 850 kg | 1805 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4290 mm | 4990 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 1900 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1470 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2870 mm |
