1970 Lotus Seven vs. 1980 Volvo 260
To start off, 1980 Volvo 260 is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Lotus Seven. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Lotus Seven would be higher. At 2,383 cc (6 cylinders), 1980 Volvo 260 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1970 Lotus Seven (85 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 4 more horse power than 1980 Volvo 260. (81 HP @ 4800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1970 Lotus Seven should accelerate faster than 1980 Volvo 260. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Volvo 260 weights approximately 860 kg more than 1970 Lotus Seven.
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 Volvo 260 (140 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 15 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Lotus Seven. (125 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1980 Volvo 260 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Lotus Seven.
Compare all specifications:
| 1970 Lotus Seven | 1980 Volvo 260 | |
| Make | Lotus | Volvo |
| Model | Seven | 260 |
| Year Released | 1970 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1340 cc | 2383 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 85 HP | 81 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Torque | 125 Nm | 140 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 23.5:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Diesel |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 590 kg | 1450 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3710 mm | 4890 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1540 mm | 1720 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1110 mm | 1440 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2240 mm | 2660 mm |
