1985 Ford Crown Victoria vs. 1964 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1985 Ford Crown Victoria is newer by 21 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1964 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1964 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1985 Ford Crown Victoria is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1985 Ford Crown Victoria (148 HP @ 3200 RPM) has 48 more horse power than 1964 Lotus Elan. (100 HP @ 5700 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1985 Ford Crown Victoria should accelerate faster than 1964 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1985 Ford Crown Victoria weights approximately 1110 kg more than 1964 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, 1985 Ford Crown Victoria (366 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 228 more torque (in Nm) than 1964 Lotus Elan. (138 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1985 Ford Crown Victoria will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1964 Lotus Elan. 1985 Ford Crown Victoria has automatic transmission and 1964 Lotus Elan has manual transmission. 1964 Lotus Elan will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1985 Ford Crown Victoria will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1985 Ford Crown Victoria | 1964 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Crown Victoria | Elan |
| Year Released | 1985 | 1964 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Convertible |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4942 cc | 1498 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 148 HP | 100 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3200 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 366 Nm | 138 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 4500 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 | 1700 kg | 590 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 |
