1987 BMW 324 vs. 1969 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1987 BMW 324 is newer by 18 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 2,443 cc (6 cylinders), 1987 BMW 324 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1969 Lotus Elan (118 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 5 more horse power than 1987 BMW 324. (113 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1969 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1987 BMW 324. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1987 BMW 324 weights approximately 371 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, 1987 BMW 324 (214 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 68 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Lotus Elan. (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1987 BMW 324 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
| 1987 BMW 324 | 1969 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | BMW | Lotus |
| Model | 324 | Elan |
| Year Released | 1987 | 1969 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Convertible |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2443 cc | 1558 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 113 HP | 118 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 214 Nm | 146 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80.1 mm | 82.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 81 mm | 72.8 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 22.0:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1260 kg | 889 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4330 mm | 4300 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1650 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2580 mm | 2440 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 55 L | 59 L |
