1976 Buick Riviera vs. 1969 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1976 Buick Riviera is newer by 7 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 5,724 cc (6 cylinders), 1976 Buick Riviera is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Buick Riviera (154 HP @ 3400 RPM) has 36 more horse power than 1969 Lotus Elan. (118 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1976 Buick Riviera should accelerate faster than 1969 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Buick Riviera weights approximately 876 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, 1976 Buick Riviera (380 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 234 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Lotus Elan. (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1976 Buick Riviera will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Lotus Elan. 1976 Buick Riviera has automatic transmission and 1969 Lotus Elan has manual transmission. 1969 Lotus Elan will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1976 Buick Riviera will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Buick Riviera | 1969 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Buick | Lotus |
| Model | Riviera | Elan |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1969 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Convertible |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5724 cc | 1558 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 154 HP | 118 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3400 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 380 Nm | 146 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1800 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1765 kg | 889 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5550 mm | 4300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1970 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1410 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2950 mm | 2440 mm |
