1963 Elva Courier MK III Roadster

This is a 1963 Elva Courier Mark III, serial number E1055, with the original 1622cc MGA motor, MGB transmission, and Riley station wagon differential.

Originally built by Trojan Limited in England as a street car for club racing, this Courier was imported to the United States and shipped to Stephen Motors on May 6, 1963. It was raced in timed events in the 1960s and sold to Butch Gilbert of Westley, California, who restored the car for historical road racing in the late 1980s.

Purchased by Ron Hodges of Berkeley, California in 1989, it was raced in SCCA, CSRG, and HMSA events at Laguna Seca and Sears Point. In 1995, this Courier was purchased by its present owner, Robert Walker of Pebble Beach, California.

Factory ledger sheets indicate that serial number E1055 was a right-hand drive car, painted white with a blue interior. However, during restoration, it was determined that the original color was red with a black interior and that it was always a left-hand drive car. No secondary serial number stamping was used which could help in solving this mystery.

This apparent inconsistency in description is attributed to the documented factory practice of duplicating or switching serial number plates to circumvent the United Kingdom tax laws.