1959 Elva Mk V Sports Racer

Mk II featured a deDion rear axle. Mk IV had fully independent suspension and was the first Elva with a tubular space frame. Nichols continued small displacement sports-racer development with the Mk V, the ultimate front-engined, drum-brake Elva sports racer.

Only thirteen were built but with power from the Coventry-Climax FWB single overhead camshaft engine they were the equal, if not the better, of Chapman’s Lotus 11 in England, Europe and the U. S. Offered here from the Andiamo Racing stable is Elva Mk V chassis 100/94.

Front-engined with independent rear suspension and inboard drum brakes, it is meticulously prepared to SVRA specs. It has raced successfully against Lotus XIs, Lotus 17s, Merlyns and Lola Mk 1s. It was acquired in 2005 from Harvey Siegel, owner of Virginia International Raceway who had raced it successfully for several years.

Since acquisition by Andiamo Racing it has been campaigned in SVRA events at important historic racing meetings at VIR, Roebling Road, Watkins Glen, Road Atlanta, Road America, Mid Ohio and Sebring. At Sebring in 2008 driven by Alex Quattelbaum II it won its class on the 49th anniversary of Elva’s class win in the 1959 enduro with a Mk IV driven by Bill Jordan and Chuck Dietrich. Power is from a 1,490cc long stroke Coventry Climax FWB with dual Weber carburetors through a Taylor Race Engineering rib-case Sprite-type close ratio 4-speed gearbox.

The engine was built in 2006 with an aluminum girdle plate to join the block and bearing towers for strength and reliability in its long stroke configuration. Rebuilt in 2007 by VDS Engines at a cost of over $40,000 with a $15,000 re-engineered head, camshaft and valves from Sid Hoole Racing, it has only four race weekends since and was thoroughly inspected and found to be in excellent condition when inspected by VDS Engines in September 2008 with no competition since. It is supplied with comprehensive documentation of its restoration, maintenance, preparation, setup and rebuilds as well as its current SVRA logbook and transponder.

Shocks, brakes and tires were rebuilt or replaced during the last (2007) season of competition. The chassis and mission critical parts were crack tested in 2005-06. The fuel cell, wiring and Koni adjustable shocks were new at the same time.

The gearbox was refreshed by Taylor in mid-2008. Toe adjustment bars, differential and engine parts are included in the sale, as is the original chassis frame (to be picked up by the buyer at Andiamo’s shop in Ohio. ) A Traqmate GPS data system, Chase camera and Sampson radio configured to this Elva are available by separate agreement.

Prepared without regard to cost, maintained to the highest standards, track-ready and one of the most attractive, aggressive and aerodynamically effective front-engined, drum-braked sports racers, this Elva Mk V Climax sports-racer will be immediately competitive and a valued entrant in the most desirable historic racing events.