1976 Ford Cortina vs. 1968 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1976 Ford Cortina is newer by 8 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 2,294 cc (6 cylinders), 1976 Ford Cortina is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1968 Lotus Elan (116 HP @ 6250 RPM) has 9 more horse power than 1976 Ford Cortina. (107 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1968 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1976 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Ford Cortina weights approximately 240 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, 1976 Ford Cortina (177 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 31 more torque (in Nm) than 1968 Lotus Elan. (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1976 Ford Cortina will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1968 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Ford Cortina | 1968 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Cortina | Elan |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1968 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2294 cc | 1558 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 107 HP | 116 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 6250 RPM |
| Torque | 177 Nm | 146 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 90 mm | 82.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 60.1 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 | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1090 kg | 850 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4390 mm | 4290 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2440 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 54 L | 45 L |
