1977 Ford Cortina vs. 1969 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1977 Ford Cortina is newer by 8 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 4,093 cc (6 cylinders), 1977 Ford Cortina is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1977 Ford Cortina (123 HP @ 3700 RPM) has 15 more horse power than 1969 Lotus Elan. (108 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1977 Ford Cortina should accelerate faster than 1969 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1977 Ford Cortina weights approximately 440 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, 1977 Ford Cortina (289 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 142 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Lotus Elan. (147 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1977 Ford Cortina will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
| 1977 Ford Cortina | 1969 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Cortina | Elan |
| Year Released | 1977 | 1969 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4093 cc | 1558 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 123 HP | 108 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3700 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 289 Nm | 147 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| 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 | 1140 kg | 700 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4380 mm | 3690 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1430 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1340 mm | 1170 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2580 mm | 2140 mm |
