1973 BMW 3 vs. 1969 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1973 BMW 3 is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1969 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1969 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 3,153 cc (6 cylinders), 1973 BMW 3 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1973 BMW 3 (203 HP @ 5600 RPM) has 87 more horse power than 1969 Lotus Elan. (116 HP @ 6250 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1973 BMW 3 should accelerate faster than 1969 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 BMW 3 weights approximately 420 kg more than 1969 Lotus Elan. 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, 1973 BMW 3 (287 Nm @ 4200 RPM) has 141 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Lotus Elan. (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1973 BMW 3 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
| 1973 BMW 3 | 1969 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | BMW | Lotus |
| Model | 3 | Elan |
| Year Released | 1973 | 1969 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Convertible |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3153 cc | 1558 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 203 HP | 116 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5600 RPM | 6250 RPM |
| Torque | 287 Nm | 146 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4200 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 89.3 mm | 82.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 84 mm | 72.8 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1270 kg | 850 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4640 mm | 4290 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1740 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1380 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2510 mm | 2440 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 45 L |
