1981 Ford Capri vs. 1966 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1981 Ford Capri is newer by 15 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 1,593 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Ford Capri is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1966 Lotus Elan (115 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 48 more horse power than 1981 Ford Capri. (67 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1966 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1981 Ford Capri. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Ford Capri weights approximately 314 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 32 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Ford Capri. (115 Nm @ 2700 RPM). This means 1966 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Ford Capri.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Ford Capri | 1966 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Capri | Elan |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1966 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Convertible |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1593 cc | 1557 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 67 HP | 115 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 115 Nm | 147 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2700 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 87.8 mm | 82.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 72.8 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.2:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1010 kg | 696 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4450 mm | 3700 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1430 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1180 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2570 mm | 2140 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 58 L | 45 L |
