1974 Lotus Elite vs. 1969 Toyota Century
To start off, 1974 Lotus Elite is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1969 Toyota Century. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1969 Toyota Century would be higher. At 2,981 cc (8 cylinders), 1969 Toyota Century is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1974 Lotus Elite (142 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 15 more horse power than 1969 Toyota Century. (127 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1974 Lotus Elite should accelerate faster than 1969 Toyota Century. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1969 Toyota Century weights approximately 644 kg more than 1974 Lotus Elite.
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, 1969 Toyota Century (236 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 59 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Lotus Elite. (177 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1969 Toyota Century will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Lotus Elite. 1969 Toyota Century has automatic transmission and 1974 Lotus Elite has manual transmission. 1974 Lotus Elite will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1969 Toyota Century will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1974 Lotus Elite | 1969 Toyota Century | |
| Make | Lotus | Toyota |
| Model | Elite | Century |
| Year Released | 1974 | 1969 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1973 cc | 2981 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 142 HP | 127 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 177 Nm | 236 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.4:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1060 kg | 1704 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4470 mm | 4990 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1830 mm | 1900 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1220 mm | 1470 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2490 mm | 2870 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 67 L | 70 L |
