 1963 MK7 |
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1964 Elva MK VII news, pictures, and information | ||
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 |  |  | Sports Racer Designer: Frank Nicholls Chassis Num: 70P/040 |
In its debut, a sister car won its first race, the prestigious Road America 500, in 1963. This car, #70P/040, was initially purchased by lee Hall of Chicago, Illinois, who won the 1965 E Modified National Championship. It was sold to Mike Rahal in 1966. Mike went on to drive this car in many SCCA National and USRCC events. The highlight of Mike's career was placing fourth in the under two-liter event at the 1967 Road America 500.
Later, in 1970, Bobby Rahal competed in his first race in Harewood Acres, Ontario, Canada. The car was repurchased in 2000, and today #70P/040 is a centerpiece of the Rahal Collection.
In the year 1955, Frank G. Nichols founded the Elva sports car manufacturing company. Based in Hastings, United Kingdom, the name Elva comes from the French phrase ‘ella va' which means ‘she goes'. Unfortunately financial problems that were caused by the failure of the U.S. distributor the Elva Company was sold to Trojan in 1961. Production was relocated to Rye, Sussex, and again in 1966 to the main Trojan factory in Croydon. In 1965 Ken Sheppard from Customized Sports Cars of Shenley, Hertfordshire purchased Elva from Trojan, but unfortunately production ended in 1968.
In 1954, Frank Nichols built his first sports racers. They was designed by Mick Chapman and created specifically for competition. Upon completion, they were taken to the track and competed with similar small displacement Lotus sports-races from Colin Chapman. With the car showing tremendous promise, Nicholes decided to emulate its design with the first few Elva live rear axle sports-racers.
MK II featured a deDion rear axle. The MK IV had fully independent suspension and was the first Elva with a tubular space frame.
The ultimate front-engined, drum-brake Elva sports racer was the small displacement sports-racer MK V. Only thirteen examples were produced. Power was from the Coventry-Climax FWB single overhead camshaft engine, and they were competitive (perhaps better), than Chapman's Lotus 11 in England, Europe and the United States.
Twenty-eight Elva MKVI models were produced with production beginning in December of 1961 and lasting until October of 1962. Most were powered by the Coventry Climax FWA 1100cc engine, although a few were given Ford push-rod power and other engines. Drum brakes were standard as their low weight and small displacement engines did not necessitate a need for discs.
The MK VI were the first of the modern ultra low 'lay down' sports racers. They made their debut at the Brands Hatch Boxing day race in England on December of 1961. They were popular in the US as a club racer in the G-Modified class. They enjoyed much success through the 1962 season but were soon eclipsed by the Lotus 23 and its successor, the Elva MK VII.
There were a total of around 69-72 examples of the MKVII produced between 1963 through 1965. Engine options varied, some were fitted with Lotus/Ford 1600cc, Ford Cosworth 1100cc, (Porsche, Climax, Lotus Twin Cam, and BMW) and various other units.
The last Elva Sports Racers were the Mark VIII. They were based on the highly successful MK VII and VIIS, and fitted with the most state-of-the-art-technology of the era. They were sold without engines and never officially used as factory competition cars; they were raced with much success by privateers, such as Carl Haas. The MKVIII had rocker arm front suspension, a rigid chassis design, aerodynamic body, and a number of other innovations making them formidable competition against the Lotus 23s and other '2-liter and Under' competitors.
By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2010
In 1954, Frank Nichols built his first sports racers. They was designed by Mick Chapman and created specifically for competition. Upon completion, they were taken to the track and competed with similar small displacement Lotus sports-races from Colin Chapman. With the car showing tremendous promise, Nicholes decided to emulate its design with the first few Elva live rear axle sports-racers.
MK II featured a deDion rear axle. The MK IV had fully independent suspension and was the first Elva with a tubular space frame.
The ultimate front-engined, drum-brake Elva sports racer was the small displacement sports-racer MK V. Only thirteen examples were produced. Power was from the Coventry-Climax FWB single overhead camshaft engine, and they were competitive (perhaps better), than Chapman's Lotus 11 in England, Europe and the United States.
Twenty-eight Elva MKVI models were produced with production beginning in December of 1961 and lasting until October of 1962. Most were powered by the Coventry Climax FWA 1100cc engine, although a few were given Ford push-rod power and other engines. Drum brakes were standard as their low weight and small displacement engines did not necessitate a need for discs.
The MK VI were the first of the modern ultra low 'lay down' sports racers. They made their debut at the Brands Hatch Boxing day race in England on December of 1961. They were popular in the US as a club racer in the G-Modified class. They enjoyed much success through the 1962 season but were soon eclipsed by the Lotus 23 and its successor, the Elva MK VII.
There were a total of around 69-72 examples of the MKVII produced between 1963 through 1965. Engine options varied, some were fitted with Lotus/Ford 1600cc, Ford Cosworth 1100cc, (Porsche, Climax, Lotus Twin Cam, and BMW) and various other units.
The last Elva Sports Racers were the Mark VIII. They were based on the highly successful MK VII and VIIS, and fitted with the most state-of-the-art-technology of the era. They were sold without engines and never officially used as factory competition cars; they were raced with much success by privateers, such as Carl Haas. The MKVIII had rocker arm front suspension, a rigid chassis design, aerodynamic body, and a number of other innovations making them formidable competition against the Lotus 23s and other '2-liter and Under' competitors.
By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2010
| SZYMCZAK TAKES MAZDA MX-5 CUP RACE ONE AT MAZDA RACEWAY | |
 | MONTEREY, Calif. (May 10, 2013) – Christian Szymczak, of Palos Verdes, Calif., won Round Three of the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup doubleheader at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Elliott Skeer, of Carlsbad, Calif., crossed the line in second, followed by John Dean, of Sebring, Fla. Szymczak, in the No. 34 ALARA Racing MX-5, set himself up for a clean sweep at the 11-Turn, 2.238-mile Mazda Raceway, with a 9.5-second gap. Szymczak was the fastest in qualifying and each of the practi...[Read more...] |
| Firestone Returns As Presenting Sponsor of RRDC Evening With Brian Redman in Long Beach | |
 | The Firestone brand will return as presenting sponsor of the Road Racing Drivers Club's fifth annual West Coast banquet honoring auto racing's most influential leaders. This year, on Thursday, April 18, prior to the running of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the 'RRDC Evening with Brian Redman presented by Firestone' will highlight the career of one of the sport's most popular, talented and successful race-car drivers. This is the Firestone brand's fourth straight year as a supporter of the...[Read more...] |
| KARL LUDVIGSEN SPEAKING IN WATKINS GLEN ON APRIL 13 | |
 | Automobile industry insider and author/historian Karl Ludvigsen will speak about his experiences in the worlds of cars and racing on April 13 at the International Motor Racing Research Center. The free talk, part of the on-going Center Conversations speaker series, will be at 1 p.m. at the Center located at 610 S. Decatur St., Watkins Glen, N.Y. It is open to all. 'A Lifetime on Wheels' will be an illustrated presentation based on Ludvigsen's careers as an executive in the motor industry...[Read more...] |
| And Then There Were Three - Meet the Playboy MX-5 Cup Title Contenders | |
 | With the final two races of the season this week at Road Atlanta, the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup championship has come down to three drivers, with a fourth still mathematically in contention. The man in the driver's seat for the Mazda-funded ride higher up the development ladder next season is Stevan McAleer, who began his rookie season wondering if he had the resources for a full season in the No. 28 Blue Mercury Capital/Numerix MX-5. Two wins and seven podium finishes has kept ...[Read more...] |
| Road America Announces 2013 Season Schedule | |
 | Road America President and General Manager, George Bruggenthies, announced Road America's 2013 season schedule today. 'Road America has the most active and diverse schedule of any road race circuit in the U.S. and we look forward to hosting the AMA, NASCAR Nationwide Series, SCCA and three separate vintage events again in 2013,' said Bruggenthies. 'We also look forward to being the first circuit to have the opportunity to show the world what the new race format of the recently announced GRAN...[Read more...] |
 1964
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