This unlikely looking group are behind the namesake - ELVA in French "She Goes"
On the left - Frank Nichols - the founder of Elva - Elva was a force in racing in the late 1950's and early 1960's -- Elva built race cars mostly and eventually got absorbed into McClaren.
The car was definitely British but Frank spent a bit of time in France during WW II - and in talking to him personally he led me to believe it was a subtle reference to a fond memory.
Next to Frank is Archie Scott Brown - a very famous name from the fifties mostly associated Lister Jaguars - Archie raced in Formula 1 - once and was a feature sports car driver. He drove for Frank in the early Elva Sports Racers in this case with a Butterworth Engine
Archie Butterworth is next to Archie Scott Brown - Archie also raced in Formula 1 in a car of his own design - The car used a Steyr V8 and was 4 wheel drive and never finished the race.
That same car managed to make it over to the US and was entered in the Pike Peak race as the Butterball Special
It was and still could be housed in the FWD museum in Clintonville Wisconsin - very near to where I grew up and I remember seeing the car - but until last week did not know the connection. Archie was famous for two things his Gin And Tonics - he had a special case for preparation - He is holding one in the picture and he patented a unique valve design.
On the far right is Peter Nott - Peter worked for Hillman and was an engineer and designer. Peter moonlighted for Frank Nichols and penned/designed a lot of Elva cars including the Courier -
The Courier Elva's only road car (barely) and the subject of this blog. Peter went on to design the Imp and that is probably his legacy - though I find the Courier a better looking car.
The Elva Courier was mostly the result of the two guys on the end - the other guys are the color commentary
