1989 Ford Fairlane vs. 1962 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1989 Ford Fairlane is newer by 27 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1962 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1962 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 3,949 cc (6 cylinders), 1989 Ford Fairlane is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 Ford Fairlane (186 HP @ 4250 RPM) has 86 more horse power than 1962 Lotus Elan. (100 HP @ 5700 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1989 Ford Fairlane should accelerate faster than 1962 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1989 Ford Fairlane weights approximately 970 kg more than 1962 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, 1989 Ford Fairlane (338 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 200 more torque (in Nm) than 1962 Lotus Elan. (138 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1989 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1962 Lotus Elan. 1989 Ford Fairlane has automatic transmission and 1962 Lotus Elan has manual transmission. 1962 Lotus Elan will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1989 Ford Fairlane will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1989 Ford Fairlane | 1962 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Fairlane | Elan |
| Year Released | 1989 | 1962 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3949 cc | 1496 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 186 HP | 100 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4250 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 338 Nm | 138 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1560 kg | 590 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5030 mm | 3700 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1430 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1110 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2930 mm | 2140 mm |
