1975 Ford Cortina vs. 1968 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1975 Ford Cortina is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1968 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1968 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 1,558 cc (4 cylinders), 1968 Lotus Elan is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1968 Lotus Elan (116 HP @ 6250 RPM) has 60 more horse power than 1975 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1968 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1975 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1975 Ford Cortina weights approximately 190 kg more than 1968 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, 1968 Lotus Elan (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 55 more torque (in Nm) than 1975 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1968 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1975 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1975 Ford Cortina | 1968 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Cortina | Elan |
| Year Released | 1975 | 1968 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1298 cc | 1558 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 56 HP | 116 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 6250 RPM |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 146 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 82.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 63 mm | 72.8 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1040 kg | 850 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4280 mm | 4290 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2440 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 87 L | 45 L |
