2000 Caterham 7 vs. 1960 Jensen 541
To start off, 2000 Caterham 7 is newer by 40 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1960 Jensen 541. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1960 Jensen 541 would be higher. At 3,990 cc (6 cylinders), 1960 Jensen 541 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2000 Caterham 7 (170 HP @ 10750 RPM) has 41 more horse power than 1960 Jensen 541. (129 HP @ 4100 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2000 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1960 Jensen 541. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1960 Jensen 541 weights approximately 1054 kg more than 2000 Caterham 7.
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, 1960 Jensen 541 (310 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 185 more torque (in Nm) than 2000 Caterham 7. (125 Nm @ 8250 RPM). This means 1960 Jensen 541 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2000 Caterham 7.
Compare all specifications:
| 2000 Caterham 7 | 1960 Jensen 541 | |
| Make | Caterham | Jensen |
| Model | 7 | 541 |
| Year Released | 2000 | 1960 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1137 cc | 3990 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 170 HP | 129 HP |
| Engine RPM | 10750 RPM | 4100 RPM |
| Torque | 125 Nm | 310 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 8250 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 79 mm | 87.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 58 mm | 111.1 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 11.0:1 | 7.4:1 |
| Top Speed | 212 km/hour | 177 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 440 kg | 1494 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3110 mm | 4530 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1580 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1010 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2260 mm | 2670 mm |
