Once his military service was complete in 1947, racing enthusiast Frank Nichols purchased a small garage at Westham, England. Having achieved some success, he then moved to larger premises in Bexhill, Sussex, where a burgeoning motor racing community existed. Beginning with a Lotus VI, Nichols campaigned a CSM Special in 1954, achieving considerable success. He resolved to produce and sell a similar car of his own design, and in 1955,founded Elva Engineering Company. Legend has it that Nichols named his cars ‘Elva’ for the French “elle va”, meaning, “she goes”. Nichols soon had plenty of orders, and the improved MK1B and MK II followed shortly after.
The MK II was an advanced design, with a light, yet strong welded space-frame, and a fully independent suspension with a De Dion rear axle. Early MK IIs were fitted with handmade aluminium bodies, but after receiving six alloy bodies contracted at £500 each with billings for £1,500 per body, Nichols quickly changed to less costly fibreglass panels. A street car, the Courier, appeared in 1958, and approximately 400 examples were built by 1961, meeting with strong American demand. Elva’s U.S. importer, however, experienced difficulties,forcing Elva into voluntary insolvency. Production of the Courier was reinstated under Trojan, Ltd., with Nichols acting as a consultant until 1965. Courier production continued until 1969, and Elva sportsracing cars were also produced until the late 1960s. A number of engines were utilised, including Ford, BMW, and Porsche, in addition to the tried and true Coventry Climax, the most desirable of all the engines fitted into these cars. Early cars like the MK II presented here, were equipped with “Alfin” finned aluminium drum brakes, and this is one of the rare aluminium-bodied examples.
It is believed that this 1957 MK II is one of the Elvas that participated in the 1958 12 Hours of Sebring race, an important test for any small, low-volume constructor that hoped to carve out a market niche in America. The American market was particularly crucial, as the Suez crisis had seriously affected motorsports in England during the mid to late 1950s. Two works cars, as well as three privateer entries, entered the 1958 Sebring race, although only three finished. The following year proved remarkably successful, as the two works entries finished first and second in their class! Although there is no documentation to support the vendor’s belief that this example was in fact one of the works entries at Sebring in 1958, it is an extremely early car, fitted with the aforementioned alloy panelwork.
In recent years it has returned to the track, having competed in Group 5 for 1955-1965 Sports Racing Cars at the Rolex Vintage Festival, as well as the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix in July of this year, in addition to the Brooklands Motoring Festival. Beautifully clothed in its polished aluminium bodywork, the Elva is enhanced by period correct centre-lock wire wheels, a roll cage, an aluminium tonneau cover, and dual racing mirrors. Power, of course,is delivered by the well-regarded Coventry Climax overhead-cam four-cylinder engine, mated to a four-speed manual gearbox. This attractive and highly competitive Elva MK II will continue to be a formidable entry into a multitude of vintage motor racing events for its next owner, and it will certainly continue to demonstrate the brilliance of Frank Nichols’ design and engineering.
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