1963 Lotus Elan vs. 1959 Mercedes-Benz 220
To start off, 1963 Lotus Elan is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1959 Mercedes-Benz 220. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1959 Mercedes-Benz 220 would be higher. At 2,195 cc (6 cylinders), 1959 Mercedes-Benz 220 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1959 Mercedes-Benz 220 (115 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 15 more horse power than 1963 Lotus Elan. (100 HP @ 5700 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1959 Mercedes-Benz 220 should accelerate faster than 1963 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1959 Mercedes-Benz 220 weights approximately 791 kg more than 1963 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, 1959 Mercedes-Benz 220 (172 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 34 more torque (in Nm) than 1963 Lotus Elan. (138 Nm @ 3750 RPM). This means 1959 Mercedes-Benz 220 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1963 Lotus Elan.
Compare all specifications:
1963 Lotus Elan | 1959 Mercedes-Benz 220 | |
Make | Lotus | Mercedes-Benz |
Model | Elan | 220 |
Year Released | 1963 | 1959 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1498 cc | 2195 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 100 HP | 115 HP |
Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 4800 RPM |
Torque | 138 Nm | 172 Nm |
Torque RPM | 3750 RPM | 3500 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 80 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 72.7 mm | 72.8 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 8.7:1 |
Top Speed | 185 km/hour | 165 km/hour |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 594 kg | 1385 kg |
Vehicle Length | 3700 mm | 4880 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1430 mm | 1800 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1150 mm | 1510 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2140 mm | 2760 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 45 L | 100 L |