1981 Ford Capri vs. 1969 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1981 Ford Capri is newer by 12 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 1,558 cc (4 cylinders), 1969 Lotus Elan is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1969 Lotus Elan (118 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 69 more horse power than 1981 Ford Capri. (49 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1969 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 96 kg more than 1969 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, 1969 Lotus Elan (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 60 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Ford Capri. (86 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1969 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 | 1969 Lotus Elan | |
Make | Ford | Lotus |
Model | Capri | Elan |
Year Released | 1981 | 1969 |
Body Type | Coupe | Convertible |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1297 cc | 1558 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 49 HP | 118 HP |
Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 6000 RPM |
Torque | 86 Nm | 146 Nm |
Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 985 kg | 889 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4380 mm | 4300 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1680 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1200 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2570 mm | 2440 mm |