• Year of manufacture 
    1964
  • Car type 
    Other
  • Lot number 
    159
  • Condition 
    Used
  • Location
    United Kingdom
  • Exterior colour 
    Blue

Description

Estimate:
€75,000 - €100,000

  • A notable example of an attractive, competitive Elva design
  • Proven to be highly competitive in vintage racing
  • Offered with two sets of spare wheels and a generous selection of spare mechanical components
  • Current FIA historic technical passport valid through end of 2026
  • 1,991-cc BMW inline-four engine prepared by Laranca Motorsport; Hewland Transmissions race gearbox

Please note that this lot will need to be collected in Chobham, U.K.

Established by Frank G. Nichols in 1955, Elva (a name suitably derived from the elle va, French for “she goes”) built a series of road and racing cars and experienced considerable closed-circuit success—especially on the great road courses of the United States—before ceasing production in 1968.

This 1964 Elva-BMW MK VIIs, chassis number 70/024, ably demonstrates why the British constructor’s cars are still cherished, and actively campaigned, to this day. Its 1,991-cc BMW engine has been prepared by Laranca Motorsport and is said to have roughly 12 hours of run time. Further technical features include two custom-made Uniroyal moulded safety fuel tanks and a long-ratio Hewland Mark 8 transaxle.

Campaigned extensively throughout Europe in the late 1990s and early 2000s, this Elva has a proven record of success in vintage racing and would surely excel in the hands of a capable driver.

With a previous owner, it was campaigned at the 1998 Oldtimer Grand Prix at the Nürburgring where it won its class. At the six-hour race at the Spa Classic, the Elva won its class and finished second overall in both 1999 and 2000, having set a faster practice time than the monster American V8-powered Bizzarini and GT40s, with a blistering lap time of 2:55.512.

Travelling to Spain for the 2000 Jarama 12-Hours, there it finished third overall and subsequently finished second overall in the Gran Premio Storico at Jerez de la Frontera, prior to winning its class in the 2001 Oldtimer Grand Prix meeting in Germany. More recently, at the Silverstone Classic in 2016 with Martin Stretton behind the wheel, the Elva qualified second in the Guards Trophy and at one point was leading the race.

Today, this car is offered with a large spares package, including a set of Minilite wheels, a set of magnesium wheels with tyres, extra gear sets, a starter motor, clutch plates, front wishbones, a front anti-roll bar, stub axles, wheel bearings, driveshaft yolks, a Lumenition electronic ignition kit, and more.

Further, it is accompanied by documentation—including a thorough suspension geometry and vehicle dynamics report conducted by GSD RaceDyn in 2013 and FIA class TSRC10 historic technical passport valid until 31 December 2026, both of which will help this car’s new owner continue its racing legacy. To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/0420.


RM Sotheby's
5 Heron Square
Richmond
TW9 1EL
United Kingdom
Contact Person Kontaktperson
Title 
Mr
First name 
Augustin
Last name 
Sabatie-Garat

Phone 
+44-2078517070