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1955 Elva MKI Navigation
Frank G. Nichols left school at 14 and after spending some time supporting the war effort, started in the second-hand car business in East Sussex. He soon became interested in motorsports and started racing with a Lotus IV and then a CSM. His business sense soon turned into the need to respond to the growing demand for sports racing cars and 'ELVA' was born. Prior to the construction of the Elva MK1, Frank constructed and raced prototypes. The factory only constructed 23 chassis for the MK1.
The Mark 1 was the first ELVA intended for sale to private owners. The ELVA factory raced previous prototypes up to 1955. The Mark 1 has a complete Triumph front end and is differentiated from the later model, Mark 1B, which has an ELVA custom-fabricated front suspension.
This car, chassis number RBE-338-EEC, is estimated by the ELVA registry to be one of the first 10 chassis built. It was originally built and delivered as a rolling chassis and fitted with a 1.5-liter Maserati engine. It was registered in the United Kingdom in 1956 as a 'Maserati Special,' but the engine was lost during the first race and was returned to the ELVA factory in 1956. They decided to use the cheaper, but lighter FWA Coventry Climax engine, which remains in the car to this day.
The car was raced and hill-climbed in the United Kingdom from 1956 through the late 1980s, when it then came to the United States. The car was restored in the early 1990s and then vintage raced with SCVRA and VARA events on the east coast. The car was parked from 1998 to 2008. The car was purchased by its current owners in June of 2008 and have raced it in various West Coast vintage events since that time. It is seen here at the 2009 Monterey Historic Races at Laguna Seca Raceway.
The Mark 1 was the first ELVA intended for sale to private owners. The ELVA factory raced previous prototypes up to 1955. The Mark 1 has a complete Triumph front end and is differentiated from the later model, Mark 1B, which has an ELVA custom-fabricated front suspension.
This car, chassis number RBE-338-EEC, is estimated by the ELVA registry to be one of the first 10 chassis built. It was originally built and delivered as a rolling chassis and fitted with a 1.5-liter Maserati engine. It was registered in the United Kingdom in 1956 as a 'Maserati Special,' but the engine was lost during the first race and was returned to the ELVA factory in 1956. They decided to use the cheaper, but lighter FWA Coventry Climax engine, which remains in the car to this day.
The car was raced and hill-climbed in the United Kingdom from 1956 through the late 1980s, when it then came to the United States. The car was restored in the early 1990s and then vintage raced with SCVRA and VARA events on the east coast. The car was parked from 1998 to 2008. The car was purchased by its current owners in June of 2008 and have raced it in various West Coast vintage events since that time. It is seen here at the 2009 Monterey Historic Races at Laguna Seca Raceway.
No auction information available for this vehicle at this time.
Recent Sales of the Elva MKI
(Data based on Model Year 1955 sales)
Elva MKIs That Failed To Sell At Auction
1955 Elva MKI's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
| Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 Elva Mk1/B Sports Racer | 100/B/41 | 2020 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais | $90,000 | $120,000 |
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1955 Elva MKI
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