1997 Lotus Elise vs. 1967 Riley 4
To start off, 1997 Lotus Elise is newer by 30 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1967 Riley 4. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1967 Riley 4 would be higher. At 1,796 cc (4 cylinders), 1997 Lotus Elise is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 Lotus Elise (117 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 50 more horse power than 1967 Riley 4. (67 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1997 Lotus Elise should accelerate faster than 1967 Riley 4. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1967 Riley 4 weights approximately 443 kg more than 1997 Lotus Elise.
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, 1997 Lotus Elise (169 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 49 more torque (in Nm) than 1967 Riley 4. (120 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1997 Lotus Elise will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1967 Riley 4.
Compare all specifications:
| 1997 Lotus Elise | 1967 Riley 4 | |
| Make | Lotus | Riley |
| Model | Elise | 4 |
| Year Released | 1997 | 1967 |
| Body Type | Roadster | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 1796 cc | 1622 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 117 HP | 67 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 169 Nm | 120 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 89.4 mm | 88.9 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 8.3:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 705 kg | 1148 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3730 mm | 4540 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1210 mm | 1530 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2310 mm | 2530 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 40 L | 45 L |
