1971 Lotus Elan vs. 1952 Alfa Romeo 1900
To start off, 1971 Lotus Elan is newer by 19 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1952 Alfa Romeo 1900. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1952 Alfa Romeo 1900 would be higher. At 1,884 cc (4 cylinders), 1952 Alfa Romeo 1900 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Lotus Elan (126 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 36 more horse power than 1952 Alfa Romeo 1900. (90 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1952 Alfa Romeo 1900. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1952 Alfa Romeo 1900 weights approximately 230 kg more than 1971 Lotus Elan.
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 @ 5500 RPM) has 13 more torque (in Nm) than 1952 Alfa Romeo 1900. (140 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1971 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1952 Alfa Romeo 1900.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Lotus Elan | 1952 Alfa Romeo 1900 | |
| Make | Lotus | Alfa Romeo |
| Model | Elan | 1900 |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1952 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1558 cc | 1884 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 126 HP | 90 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 153 Nm | 140 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5500 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.3:1 | 7.5:1 |
| Top Speed | 193 km/hour | 145 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 870 kg | 1100 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 4410 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1620 mm | 1610 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1500 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2710 mm |
