Ford-Powered Elva Courier

This Elva Courier, chassis #1153, was purchased in Michigan in 1997 from Keith Brown. It has been restored and race-prepared, and had its debut race in September 2001 at Blackhawk Farms Raceway in Illinois. Photos

Wanted:
Car History Information
Chassis #1153

I am trying to trace the Elva's history. In May of 1990, Keith Brown saw a cardboard sign at the Carlisle, PA Import Car Meet that listed cars for sale, including this one. He followed the seller to his place 50 miles east and bought the car with no motor. The seller had no information about its history. Does anyone remember a Ford-powered Elva Courier racing in the 60s or 70s?

Don Kruzan, who runs the Elva Registry, has documentation that it was built in November 1963. Don's records indicate that it originally was red, Ford GT powered, with a solid beam axle and left-hand drive.

Don's records show that when Carl Haas imported this car he also brought in #1152, which was identical except for the color. #1152 now belongs to Mike Scott of Ft. Wayne, IN. Mike tells me that Haas used #1152 as a show car and then sold it to Jon Stevenson of Ft. Wayne. Jon Stevenson and Richard Pence raced it as a light green car with white stripes on the sides. In 1968, Mike bought #1152 and restored it with dark green paint. Photos

Don Kruzan also said that of the 210 Mk3 and Mk4 Couriers built, only 8 were equipped with the Cortina GT drivetrain. Additional details from Don and others are shown below. Also, here are links to Roger Dunbar's Elva and Elva Courier websites.

If anyone has any other leads or information, I would appreciate hearing from you.

Ford-Powered Elva Information To Date:
Note: An "R" after the number indicates right-hand drive.

  #1113 Stephens Motors, Redwood City, CA. Engine #1500-S337667

  #1129 Current owner is Mike Kinney, Long Beach, CA. Formerly owned by Mark Brannon. Set up as a race car. Has IRS.

  #1130 Current owner John Arnold of Denver. Fastback coupe with twin cam engine.

  #1132R David Boston, Oxford, UK

  #1141R Barry North, UK.

  #1148 Joe Bevacqua, Phoenixville, PA. Solid axle. Bright red. Purchased new by Joe in 1963. Raced from 1963 to the early 1970s.

  #1152 Mike Scott, Ft. Wayne, IN. Solid axle.

  #1153 Rich Stadther, St. Paul, MN. Solid axle.

  #1154 Richard Wiese. 1500 GT coupe, IRS.

  #1194 Roadster, IRS.

  #12xx Allen Miles, UK. Cosworth engine, may be a Sebring car. Roadster with hard top.

Photos

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Ford-Powered Elva Information To Date: Note: An "R" after the number indicates right-hand drive.
#1113	Stephens Motors, Redwood City, CA. Engine #1500-S337667
#1129	Current owner is Mike Kinney, Long Beach, CA. Formerly owned by Mark Brannon. Set up as a race car. Has IRS.
#1130	Current owner John Arnold of Denver. Fastback coupe with twin cam engine.
#1132R	David Boston, Oxford, UK
#1141R	Barry North, UK.
#1148	Joe Bevacqua, Phoenixville, PA. Solid axle. Bright red. Purchased new by Joe in 1963. Raced from 1963 to the early 1970s.
#1152	Mike Scott, Ft. Wayne, IN. Solid axle.
#1153	Rich Stadther, St. Paul, MN. Solid axle.
#1154	Richard Wiese. 1500 GT coupe, IRS.
#1194	Roadster, IRS.
#12xx	Allen Miles, UK. Cosworth engine, may be a Sebring car. Roadster with hard top.