ALREADY tested by AUTOSPORT in prototype form, the Elva Courier has now been submitted in full production guise.  The name Elva is usually associated with Formula Junior single-sealers and sports racing cars, but in fact, the Courier has a higher production rate than either of these models. However, it is more familiar to American enthusiasts than to ourselves, because the bulk of the production goes to the U.S.A.  At present, complete Couriers are for export only, but kits for home construction may be bought in this country: the principal reason is that one can hardly export a kit, but by allowing the British amateur to assemble his own car, factory space and labour are saved. The purchaser must buy certain major components direct from outside suppliers, in addition to the Elva kit. By adding these ” bought out ” components to the Elva package, a fully equipped Courier may be built for £749. This includes such items as hood, side screens, tool roll, and even tins of suitable oil. The Elva Courier is Frank Nichols’ idea of a ” fast touring and shopping ” sports car. Since it has really fierce acceleration and a maximum speed of well over 100 m.p.h., it will obviously be raced by some owners, but it is first and foremost a comfortable and practical road car. The basis of the Courier is a simple, straight, tubular frame, which is bonded and bolted to a one-piece fibreglass body structure. The suspension is by helical springs and telescopic dampers all round. At the rear, the hypoid axle is on trailing arms and a Panhard rod, while tubular wishbones of Elva manufacture look after the front geometry. In passing, one might observe that a remarkable number of chassis components, in addition to the body and frame, are made in the large new Elva factory. The steering is by rack and pinion and the drum-type brakes are of Lockheed make.  The engine and gearbox are M.G.A. the test car having the 1,600-c.c. unit. The body is cellulose sprayed and not self-coloured, in order to facilitate repairs.  Body-chassis units are fully painted and upholstered when supplied in kits, as this work is usually beyond the resources of the amateur.  First impressions of the car are that it is particularly wide, roomy, and luxurious for a sports model. The finish is excellent and many small changes have now rendered the Courier a particularly good-looking and attractive machine. A very good point is the luggage boot, which is literally enormous by current sports car standards. On taking one’s seat, one finds that the driving position is of the fashionable straight-arm variety. The seats are adjustable and the controls well placed, but for a driver of my height a slightly thinner cushion would be better. The engine is mounted unusually far back, which entails a large central tunnel, though there is plenty of room for the driver and passenger.  It is at once obvious that the acceleration is quite out of the ordinary. Wheelspin can, of course, be induced, but the rearward weight distribution gives exceptional traction, as the performance figures prove. Really quick gearchanges can be made silently, and the clutch does not slip after one has ” snatched ” a higher gear. The vivid acceleration is a product of light weight, for the Elva is about 25 per cent. lighter than the sports car to which its engine is usually fitted. Another benefit is the improved top gear flexibility, for the Courier will come right down to 15 m.p.h. and accelerate away strongly-all on the highest ratio. A very good average may be achieved with but little use of the gear lever. Curiously enough, the engine seems smoother in this car than one would expect from previous acquaintance, possibly due to the sound and vibration-damping qualities of fibreglass. The maximum speed of 104.64 m.p.h. is certainly good for a 1,600 c.c. car. The machine is perfectly steady at this velocity, and there are still a few hundred revs. in hand. The performance of this latest Courier is altogether better than that of the original prototype.

The road holding, too, has been improved, particularly at the front end. It is possible to unstick the rear wheels on a really bumpy corner, but the car remains controllable. under these conditions, and does not tend to spin off.  The brakes are fully up to any fast touring demands, though the alternative ” hard ” linings would be desirable for racing. The pleasant fly-off hand brake is quite powerful, a regrettably rare virtue nowadays. The ride is comfortable, and this would be a very suitable car for Continental touring, for which purpose the large boot and moderate fuel consumption would be appreciated.  The exhaust is reasonably quiet for fast touring, but has quite a pronounced “boom” during hard acceleration. Apparently American drivers prefer such a note to the silence of the earlier Couriers, though no doubt an individual owner could alter the exhaust system to his particular requirements. Apart from this, the car is commendably quiet mechanically. The hood

and side screens are neat and cosy, and though the hood material tended to unbutton

itself at over 100 m.p.h., few drivers will attain such a speed with the all-weather

equipment in place.  As the car is intended to be assembled by the amateur mechanic, it has been specifically engineered for ease of construction. Although the machine submitted to AUTOSPORT was complete, an opportunity was given to inspect partly built cars at the factory, and a full kit of parts was also seen. It would appear that there are no difficult tasks, and the parts to be ” bought out” are all readily obtainable standard components.  This ease of assembly goes hand in hand with good accessibility for maintenance tasks. The fibreglass construction allows relatively cheap repairs of crash damage, and highly skilled work (such as panel beating) is not required. Repairs in progress were examined at the factory, and the advantage of cellulose spraying over self-coloured fibreglass was then apparent.  The Elva Courier is a very attractive sports car of moderate cost. Propelled by the 1,600 c.c. M.G.A. engine, its light weight and ” clean ” shape ensure a brilliant performance.  It handles well and has many practical features, which renders it an ideal machine for the fast tourist who may wish to indulge in a little competition work on the side.