1969 Lotus Seven vs. 1971 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1971 Lotus Elan is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1969 Lotus Seven. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1969 Lotus Seven would be higher. Both 1969 Lotus Seven and 1971 Lotus Elan are equipped with a 1,558 cc engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Lotus Elan (126 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 12 more horse power than 1969 Lotus Seven. (114 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1971 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1969 Lotus Seven. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Lotus Elan weights approximately 294 kg more than 1969 Lotus Seven. 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, 1971 Lotus Elan (153 Nm) has 30 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Lotus Seven. (123 Nm). This means 1971 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Lotus Seven.
Compare all specifications:
| 1969 Lotus Seven | 1971 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Lotus | Lotus |
| Model | Seven | Elan |
| Year Released | 1969 | 1971 |
| Body Type | Roadster | Convertible |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1558 cc | 1558 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 114 HP | 126 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 123 Nm | 153 Nm |
| Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 82.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 77.6 mm | 72.8 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 576 kg | 870 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3380 mm | 4270 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1560 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 950 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2240 mm | 2440 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 45 L | 59 L |
