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ELVA MK 5

Started by fran�oisb , Apr 01 2004 18:27

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9 replies to this topic

#1 fran�oisb

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Joined: April 04

Posted 01 April 2004 - 18:27

Hello
I'm the french owner of the ELVA MK5 (chassis number 100/104) which was previuosly the Dave BERGER car, and had US log books (I have 1998 ones).
French federation (FFSA) doesn't accept to homologate my car, because I have no history of the car.
Is there anyone, racing enthousiast, to have information about this period (with chassis number!)
Thanks.
François (francoisb123@aol.com)

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#2 xkssFrankOpalka

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242 posts
Joined: March 04

Posted 02 April 2004 - 01:55

I raced the Elva Mk2 and Mk4 and saw the Mk 5 race later the rear engine Mk6. I saw the MK 5 race in the midwest of the USA but never owned or drove one. I was supposed to drive one at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin for a friend but the car was not ready in time.

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#3 David Birchall

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Posted 03 April 2004 - 03:25

Isn't Chuck Dietrich still around? Surely he could help this gentleman.
Does anybody have contact info for Dietrich? Its been 20 years since I talked to him.

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#4 xkssFrankOpalka

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Posted 03 April 2004 - 14:57

The Elva Mk 2 was easy to drive due to its DeDion rear axle, the Mk 4 was a disaster since they tried to go to IRS but didnt know how to design it. It had massive rear end steer, it took lots of time to correct this. By the time they got to the Mk 5 they realized their mistake and since they had a lot of MK 4 hub carriers left, they made a sheet metal cover over the old style to box it and create a wide lower A arm.

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#5 JRL

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Joined: September 03

Posted 03 April 2004 - 16:07

You could try the following
E Mail - elva registry@USWEST.net as Done has compiled a database of many ELVA cars
Also - post on the VSCCA_Newsgroup@yahoogroups.com as I'm Dave was a member with VSCCA
John Lindsay

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#6 David Birchall

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Posted 03 April 2004 - 16:51

Originally posted by xkssFrankOpalka
The Elva Mk 2 was easy to drive due to its DeDion rear axle, the Mk 4 was a disaster since they tried to go to IRS but didnt know how to design it. It had massive rear end steer, it took lots of time to correct this. By the time they got to the Mk 5 they realized their mistake and since they had a lot of MK 4 hub carriers left, they made a sheet metal cover over the old style to box it and create a wide lower A arm.

So thats why my front engined Elva FJ had those Mickey Mouse sheet metal extensions? It handled very well though-so well it got be boring!

I recalled last night that Chuck Dietrich lives in Sandusky, Ohio so could probably be found through directory assistance.
Regards, David B

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#7 David Birchall

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Posted 03 April 2004 - 17:39

Talk about memory not being reliable... It was the Scorpion formula junior, the "Successor" to the Elva junior, that was produced while Elva was in receivership, I think, that used the "boxed in" rear hub carrier casting. The Elva front engined junior still had silly little sheet metal ears though to attach the shock to. In my experience Elva, at least at that time, was very much built down to a price unlike the Gemini FJ, that I replaced my Elva with, that was beautifully built but not in any way profitable.
David B

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#8 RAP

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Joined: December 03

Posted 03 April 2004 - 18:42

You could also try Roger Dunbar at
www.elva.com

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#9 xkssFrankOpalka

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242 posts
Joined: March 04

Posted 03 April 2004 - 21:23

Glad someone else saw the boxed rear hub carriers, a great improvement. Pictures of me racing my MK2 and MK4 are in the issue of Auto Quarterly, Vol 35, #4. Unfortunately they mixed up the captions so it dosent make much sense.