1969 Lotus Seven vs. 1986 Ford Fairlane
To start off, 1986 Ford Fairlane is newer by 17 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. At 4,089 cc (6 cylinders), 1986 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1986 Ford Fairlane (137 HP @ 3750 RPM) has 23 more horse power than 1969 Lotus Seven. (114 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1986 Ford Fairlane should accelerate faster than 1969 Lotus Seven. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1986 Ford Fairlane weights approximately 1056 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, 1986 Ford Fairlane (304 Nm) has 181 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Lotus Seven. (123 Nm). This means 1986 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Lotus Seven. 1986 Ford Fairlane has automatic transmission and 1969 Lotus Seven has manual transmission. 1969 Lotus Seven will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1986 Ford Fairlane will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1969 Lotus Seven | 1986 Ford Fairlane | |
| Make | Lotus | Ford |
| Model | Seven | Fairlane |
| Year Released | 1969 | 1986 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1558 cc | 4089 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 114 HP | 137 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 3750 RPM |
| Torque | 123 Nm | 304 Nm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 576 kg | 1632 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3380 mm | 5020 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1560 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 950 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2240 mm | 2950 mm |
