1978 Ford Capri vs. 1966 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1978 Ford Capri is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1966 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1966 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 1,557 cc (4 cylinders), 1966 Lotus Elan is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1966 Lotus Elan (115 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 59 more horse power than 1978 Ford Capri. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1966 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Capri. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Ford Capri weights approximately 294 kg more than 1966 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, 1966 Lotus Elan (147 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 56 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Capri. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1966 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Capri.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Ford Capri | 1966 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Capri | Elan |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1966 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Convertible |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1297 cc | 1557 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 56 HP | 115 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 147 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 79 mm | 82.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 72.8 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 990 kg | 696 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4380 mm | 3700 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1700 mm | 1430 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1180 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2570 mm | 2140 mm |
