1980 Lotus Esprit vs. 1962 Morris Minor
To start off, 1980 Lotus Esprit is newer by 18 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1962 Morris Minor. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1962 Morris Minor would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1980 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Lotus Esprit (210 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 163 more horse power than 1962 Morris Minor. (47 HP @ 5100 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1980 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1962 Morris Minor. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 394 kg more than 1962 Morris Minor. 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, 1980 Lotus Esprit (271 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 190 more torque (in Nm) than 1962 Morris Minor. (81 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1980 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1962 Morris Minor.
Compare all specifications:
| 1980 Lotus Esprit | 1962 Morris Minor | |
| Make | Lotus | Morris |
| Model | Esprit | Minor |
| Year Released | 1980 | 1962 |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 1098 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 210 HP | 47 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 5100 RPM |
| Torque | 271 Nm | 81 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 95.4 mm | 64.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 76.2 mm | 83.7 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 7.5:1 | 8.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1219 kg | 825 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4200 mm | 3770 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1560 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1530 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2190 mm |
