1971 Ford GT 40 vs. 1985 Lotus Excel
To start off, 1985 Lotus Excel is newer by 14 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Ford GT 40. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Ford GT 40 would be higher. At 4,195 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Ford GT 40 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Ford GT 40 (350 HP @ 7200 RPM) has 169 more horse power than 1985 Lotus Excel. (181 HP @ 6500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Ford GT 40 should accelerate faster than 1985 Lotus Excel. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1985 Lotus Excel weights approximately 211 kg more than 1971 Ford GT 40.
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, 1985 Lotus Excel (232 Nm) has 147 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Ford GT 40. (85 Nm). This means 1985 Lotus Excel will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Ford GT 40.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Ford GT 40 | 1985 Lotus Excel | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | GT 40 | Excel |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1985 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 4195 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 350 HP | 181 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7200 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 85 Nm | 232 Nm |
| Engine Bore Size | 95.6 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 72.9 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 960 kg | 1171 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4350 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1800 mm | 1820 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 980 mm | 1020 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2420 mm | 2490 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 125 L | 66 L |
