Random pic 22 January 2025
The Elva, Bexhill on Sea museum https://flic.kr/p/2oEfZp4The innovative racing enthusiast Frank Nichols built the first Elva car in 1955 at his London Roadgarage in Bexhill, where there was a good local following for motor sport. These premises became the birthplace of Elva Engineering Co. Ltd.Mike Chapman's CSM (similar to the Lotus MK VI) 1172cc Ford-powered cycle-winged sports car had performed well enough to encourage Nichols and Mac' Witts to design an improved version, and the company introduced MK I and MK IB Elva sports racing cars. The MK Il appeared in 1956 followed in 1957/8 with the aluminium-bodied MK IlI as seen here. In 1 957, Keith Marsden joined Elva. His first design, the MK IV became the production car for 1959 followed by the 1960 MK V.Further expansion came with the introduction of the Elva Courier road car, designed by Peter Knott in 1957. Elva seemed destined for long-term success, but their American Distributor was imprisoned for financial irregularities which wiped the company out. Elva cars (1961) was set up, and the Courier project was sold to TrojanElva racing cars were very successful. Most of nearly 1000 cars produced were sold to American buyers. Elva cars were even featured in two Elvis Presley films. In the 1964 film Viva Las Vegas, Elvis drives an Elva MK V, and in the 1 965 film Spinout, Elvis drives a McLaren-Elva MK IA
[Details from the museum label]
Michael Ixer ● 110d0 Comments