1976 BMW 633 vs. 1971 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1976 BMW 633 is newer by 5 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 3,210 cc (6 cylinders), 1976 BMW 633 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 BMW 633 (197 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 71 more horse power than 1971 Lotus Elan. (126 HP @ 6500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1976 BMW 633 should accelerate faster than 1971 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 BMW 633 weights approximately 600 kg more than 1971 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, 1976 BMW 633 (285 Nm @ 4250 RPM) has 132 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Lotus Elan. (153 Nm @ 5500 RPM). This means 1976 BMW 633 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 BMW 633 | 1971 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | BMW | Lotus |
| Model | 633 | Elan |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1971 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Convertible |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3210 cc | 1558 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 197 HP | 126 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 285 Nm | 153 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4250 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 10.3:1 |
| Top Speed | 211 km/hour | 193 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1470 kg | 870 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4760 mm | 4270 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2630 mm | 2440 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 59 L |
