Elva Courier 1800 c.c. 4-Cylinder 1964
General description :
1964 Elva Courier Mk. IV Vintage Racer
s/n E1163
Yellow with White stripe and Black interior
Elva, not Alfa, was another of those small British car companies: Lotus, Lola, Mallock, Marcos, Peerless, Rochdale, Turner, of the 1950s and 60s that grew out of one man’s hobby, and were based on his exceptional talents. The name Elva is a corruption of the French “elle va”, meaning “she goes” which reportedly is the comment made about the first car build by Frank Nichols, the founder of Elva.
Frank Nichols began by making his own racecar in 1954, and by 1957 was successfully selling sports-racing and formula junior cars in the UK and the USA. The racecars ranged from the early side valve Ford engined models, to sports-racers powered by Porsche and BMW, and to the big V8 McLaren-Elva CanAm cars.
The Courier was the only road car produced. The Mk1 first appeared in 1959 with MGA mechanicals and was improved over the years through Mk2 and Mk3 versions. The last model was the Mk4-T with an 1800cc MGB engine, independent rear suspension of TVR origin, front suspension from Triumph, and an MGB differential housed in an Elva casting. The “Sebring” variant of this car used the Lotus 1558 Twin Cam engine.
In 1961 Elva’s US importer, Walter Dickson, ran into financial problems pushing Elva UK into voluntary liquidation. Carl Haas later took over distribution in the States while the design for the Courier was sold to Trojan Cars Ltd. Trojan manufactured with Frank Nichols to providing the technical expertise until 1965 when production ceased. (The young engineer at Trojan was Patrick Head, later the Williams Formula 1 designer. He probably needed minimum help.) When Elva did finally close, Frank Nichols successfully designed ocean-going rescue boats, the Bede Class, for the Royal National Lifeboat Institute in the UK.
This particular example has a closed ratio gearbox, limited slip differential and was previously owned and built by Elva expert Butch Gilbert. It comes with two sets of mini lite wheels and just received a fresh serviced after long period of storage. Service included brakes, fuel system and belts. A lovely Classic British sports car.
http://fantasyjunction.com/cars/1872-Elva-Courier%20Mk.%204-1800%20c.c.%204-Cylinder
1964 Elva Courier 1800 c.c. 4-Cylinder is listed sold on ClassicDigest in Emeryville by Fantasy Junction for $29500.
Car Facts
Car type : Car Make : Elva Model : Courier Model Version : 1800 c.c. 4-Cylinder Engine size : 1.8 Model Year : 1964 Location : Emeryville
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About Elva
Various motorsport disciplines, including sports car racing.Some key points about Elva cars:
Lightweight Construction: Elva cars were designed with a strong emphasis on lightweight construction, often using materials like aluminum or fiberglass for the chassis and bodywork. Their lightweight nature contributed to their agility and high performance.
Racing Success: Elva cars achieved success in motorsport, particularly in the 1960s. They competed in various classes of racing, including Formula Junior, sports car racing, and even Formula One. One of the most famous Elva models was the Elva Mk7, which was a popular choice in Formula Junior racing.
Innovative Engineering: Elva was known for innovative engineering solutions, and their cars often featured advanced suspension setups and aerodynamic designs for their time.
Limited Production: Elva cars were produced in limited quantities, which makes them sought after by collectors. The limited production numbers add to their exclusivity and value.
Post-Elva Era: The original Elva company ceased production in the late 1960s, but the name and legacy have been revived by various entities over the years, resulting in modern iterations of Elva sports cars.
Elva cars are often admired for their performance and unique design philosophy, and they hold a special place in the history of British sports car manufacturing.