1979 Ford Crown Victoria vs. 1963 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1979 Ford Crown Victoria is newer by 16 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1963 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1963 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 4,186 cc (8 cylinders), 1979 Ford Crown Victoria is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Ford Crown Victoria (118 HP @ 3800 RPM) has 18 more horse power than 1963 Lotus Elan. (100 HP @ 5700 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1979 Ford Crown Victoria should accelerate faster than 1963 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Ford Crown Victoria weights approximately 1036 kg more than 1963 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, 1979 Ford Crown Victoria (263 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 125 more torque (in Nm) than 1963 Lotus Elan. (138 Nm @ 3750 RPM). This means 1979 Ford Crown Victoria will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1963 Lotus Elan. 1979 Ford Crown Victoria has automatic transmission and 1963 Lotus Elan has manual transmission. 1963 Lotus Elan will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1979 Ford Crown Victoria will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1979 Ford Crown Victoria | 1963 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Crown Victoria | Elan |
| Year Released | 1979 | 1963 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Convertible |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4186 cc | 1498 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 118 HP | 100 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 263 Nm | 138 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 3750 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1630 kg | 594 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5320 mm | 3700 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1980 mm | 1430 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1150 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2140 mm |
