66 replies to this topic

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by normbeechey
Thanks Ray.

Anyone have an old pic of the Graduate in that 'McLaren' type clothing?

Only if it's in RCN...

Peter, that would be with Aaron Lewis, wouldn't it?

[Peter Brennan]

Ray,
No ,car is with a Peter ?????????? i will do some digging.

[Peter Brennan]

My advice on the Boral is that it is owned by a Peter Griffin.
Cheers

[gray chandler]

The only "big banger" Elfin Sports car originally fitted with a Ford engine as Dale pointed out
was the Globe Products Elfin 400 - which lives in Tasmania and I am uncertain if it is in
running order. The only 400 of the four built that I know is in running order is the Ex Matich,
Allen/Gibson etc car currently owned by Peter Brennan but this car is Chev powered and is currently painted dark blue. A Google Images search for "Elfin 400" shows a number of pictures of this (and other) 400's.
A copy of the Elfin book is currently on Ebay (# 8387564541) if you really want one.

Brian Lear
Australia

Brian,to the best of my knowlege the ex Globe Elfin 400 which now resides in Tasmania is a completely new car built by Doug Trengove at Elfin.The original car was beyond a safe restoration so it was decided to build a new car.I saw the old car and the new in progress.According to Doug the original was to be shipped to its owner along with the new car.Don't ask me to put an accurate date on this but it was when Elfin was still Elfin , before Don Elliot and Tony Edmondson moved in. Cheers,gray chandler.

[haggis]

You could check this out... from Motor Racing Australia's Fast that's Past series:

Just for clarification purposes...

The Milano GT2s were owned in WA by Russell Lamborn initially not John Blennerhassett. The first car (Sam's) was destroyed against the entry to the old pits at the top of the hill at Wanneroo in June 1973. I don't remember what caused the accident but I do remember it was something which had been put together back to front in the rear suspension or brakes. I was there on the day and it was a very, very big accident, with Lamborn requiring several stitches to his forehead after slamming into the steering wheel. The car was always campaigned in its original black and gold livery in WA.

Lamborn re-appeared in mid 1974 in the bigger engined Milano, which had been painted in a lovely red orange colour always listed in the programme as 'red pepper'. The second car had a rear wing which the first didn't have, and was campaigned by Lamborn until 1976 when Perth jeweller John Blennerhassett purchased the car. John ran the car until 1981. After that, the Milano GT2 thread goes cold in WA.


Lamborn's first Milano GT2, early 1973


Lamborn in his second Milano GT2, late 1974. Image copyright Terry Walker

More images of these cars can be found at speedwest.net

Edited by haggis, 21 August 2009 - 13:35.

[davidsutcliffe]

The only "big banger" Elfin Sports car originally fitted with a Ford engine as Dale pointed out
was the Globe Products Elfin 400 - which lives in Tasmania and I am uncertain if it is in
running order. The only 400 of the four built that I know is in running order is the Ex Matich,
Allen/Gibson etc car currently owned by Peter Brennan but this car is Chev powered and is currently painted dark blue. A Google Images search for "Elfin 400" shows a number of pictures of this (and other) 400's.
A copy of the Elfin book is currently on Ebay (# 8387564541) if you really want one.

Brian Lear
Australia

I had as (small) part to play in the rebuilding of the Bevan Gibson/Bob Jane Elfin 400 after the wreck was purchased by Ken Hastings. As a young person, Ken was a mento to me; I used to hang around the servo he owned and I one day he said words to the equivalent of "Kid, if you're going to hang arond here yo better make yourself useful" and gave me some small tasks to do>
Ken borrowed the jigs from Gary Cooper and completeley rebuilt the spaceframe and bodywork (with major modifications to the front). The original engine was fitted to that car and Ken raced it for a couple of years.
He then sold the car to Charlie Occipinti (not sure of the spelling) who raced it with a different engine (Chev I think)

[SJ Lambert]

"A few years back at a historic race meeting at Winton Motor Raceway, I saw an Elfin sportscar from the early 70's and it was powered by a 302 Cleveland.

Any idea of what model it is and who owns it? It was parked next to the Holden powered MS7 which was newer and far faster.

I haven't had much luck in chasing down "Australia's Elfin Sports and Racing Cars" by John Blanden. Apparently it will be republished, but nobody seems to know when."

A contemporary technical report by Darrel Penhale in "Sports Car Graphic" (I think) nominated the 289 cubic inch Ford (Cobra) engine as used in the prototype 400 as the standard engine for the 400 - in the article it refers to the 400 as winner of the 66 Tourist Trophy (Noel Hurd??) with the Globe Products DOHC cam heads yet to be fitted. Turns out the prototype 400 ended up being the only one fitted with a Cobra Ford from new, mated to a Hewland LG500 box.

Edited by SJ Lambert, 01 June 2010 - 10:26.

[ellrosso]

Brian, I saw Terry Southall at Symmons ASSC round in 1974 I think it was and could have sworn it had a 302 Ford in it. Also would you have any info to add to the Iriawan 600C thread? Regards, ellrosso

[gouldo]

Pics of the Graduate, Eastern Creek 2006

Edited by gouldo, 02 June 2010 - 11:22.

[gouldo]

And some pics of the Milano's

[Lee Nicolle]

They are a very different car to the earlier JWF milano [superchrged Zephyr]campaigned by Peter Goer in SA. Which unfortunatly was quite badly damaged when the throttle jammed at Collingrove a couple of weeks ago.

[Ray Bell]

That's why they're labelled 'GT2', Lee...

And while there was a larg-ish number of Milanos and Milano GTs made, only a few of the GT2s ever came out of the molds.

[Dale Harvey]

I think three, but no more than four.

Dale.

[Lee Nicolle]

I knew that were quite different, I was just stating the obvious that they look quite different. Both quite pretty cars.

[Leo D]

I think this image is appropriate to this thread.

The business end of the Globe Elfin 400.

Image uploaded with the kind permission of Ray Sinclair, for TNF's to enjoy.

[fredeuce]

Although it must be said this is not a Cleveland based engine. It was Windsor based.

[Lee Nicolle]

I think this image is appropriate to this thread.

The business end of the Globe Elfin 400.

Image uploaded with the kind permission of Ray Sinclair, for TNF's to enjoy.

Gee those twin cam heads make that little Windsor quite large.
Were they really ever succesful? Kevin?