1972 Ford Gran Torino vs. 1971 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1972 Ford Gran Torino is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 4,097 cc (6 cylinders), 1972 Ford Gran Torino is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Lotus Elan (126 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 31 more horse power than 1972 Ford Gran Torino. (95 HP @ 3600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1971 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1972 Ford Gran Torino. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1972 Ford Gran Torino weights approximately 988 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, 1972 Ford Gran Torino (245 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 92 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Lotus Elan. (153 Nm @ 5500 RPM). This means 1972 Ford Gran Torino will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
| 1972 Ford Gran Torino | 1971 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Gran Torino | Elan |
| Year Released | 1972 | 1971 |
| Body Type | Station Wagon | Convertible |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4097 cc | 1558 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 95 HP | 126 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3600 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 245 Nm | 153 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1600 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 93.5 mm | 82.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 99.3 mm | 72.8 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 10.3:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1858 kg | 870 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5470 mm | 4270 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2010 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3000 mm | 2440 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 76 L | 59 L |
