Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
9/22/22 10:36 a.m.
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Although some might see a dilapidated pile of old car bones (okay, that’s probably what most rational people would see), we saw the potential to restore and campaign an uncommon old-school sports racer, an Elva Mk VI, for our sister publication, Classic Motorsports.

And not just any old Elva–as we soon found out–but one of the long-lost, factory-backed cars …

Read the rest of the story

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
9/22/22 10:44 a.m.

Yes, please check it out. It's all the challenges of rebuilding an old race car along with the extra difficulty of wanting to keep it as original as possible. 

Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
9/22/22 10:48 a.m.

And here's some of the work Tim's been doing on the Elva (which also serves as a great guide on repairing fiberglass). Check the project car page for more.

 

nocones
nocones GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
9/22/22 11:01 a.m.

The internet says this is a 882lb car with 90Hp.  Owning a few 10:1 Lb/HP cars that weigh almost 2x what this Elva weighs I know this is going to be a fun thing to drive when done.   When it's running and driving you should run it at the Challenge just for fun.  I would love to see how a true Vintage racecar does.  

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
9/22/22 11:06 a.m.

In reply to nocones :

And it very round numbers, a stock NA Miata makes like 100 horsepower and weighs 2000 pounds, right? 

So, yeah, the Elva will not be slow. 

$2023 Challenge appearance? 

AMiataCalledSteve
AMiataCalledSteve Reader
9/22/22 11:11 a.m.

That first image looks exactly like it could be a barn find in the Forza Horizon series lol. It's awesome that stuff like that actually exists (and that people are actually capable of fixing them).

Snowdoggie (Forum Supporter)
Snowdoggie (Forum Supporter) SuperDork
9/22/22 11:37 a.m.

I actually saw one of these at Sears Point. Back when they called that track Sears Point.

Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
9/22/22 1:03 p.m.

In reply to AMiataCalledSteve :

I was thinking the same thing when I put that lead photo together. It'd make for a fun car to drive in-game.

CrustyRedXpress
CrustyRedXpress GRM+ Memberand Dork
9/22/22 1:48 p.m.
David S. Wallens said:

$2023 Challenge appearance? 

Yes pls. The more priceless collectables competing against $2000 crap cans the better.

APEowner
APEowner GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
9/22/22 3:00 p.m.

I'm looking forward to this one.  I love vintage race cars.  Particularly ones with history.

Tom1200
Tom1200 UberDork
9/22/22 3:27 p.m.

I'm seldom jealous of project cars on GRM or CM but this is one of those times you can color me green.

I've had a few Elva sports racers in my run group, I have even manged to finish ahead of some of them, but I've always known that if I had one I could get an overall win.

Cars without the significant history this one has are not particularly expensive ( around 60K). 

Mr_Asa
Mr_Asa UltimaDork
9/22/22 3:35 p.m.
Colin Wood said:

And here's some of the work Tim's been doing on the Elva (which also serves as a great guide on repairing fiberglass). Check the project car page for more.

 

It does serve as a good guide.  As I've stated many many times before and I'm sure I'll say it many times in the future, it is one of the chief motivators that helped me actually finish my boat that I'd been sitting on for ~4-6 years.

I've been looking forward to Elva updates as well.  Its an interesting car alone, add in the factory racing heritage and it steps up a few notches

stroker
stroker PowerDork
9/22/22 4:24 p.m.

I think I'd rather see it at the UTCCC....

frenchyd
frenchyd MegaDork
9/22/22 4:57 p.m.

In reply to Colin Wood :

My approach to busted fiberglass is get it together, straight and smooth then make a mold from that and with the mold make a new part.  
  In one sense it's more original than anything that can be repaired. It's both stronger and lighter than a repaired piece will be.  Plus it's closer to what the factory made originally. ( repairs add thickness and weight )  

 The first time I drove the DeMar with the repaired front end ( no I didn't do the repair ) it blew off at about 150 mph. ( went about 80 feet in the air. ). 
   Read about what Killed Bruce McClaren   

nocones
nocones GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
9/22/22 5:05 p.m.

In reply to stroker :

Why not both?

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