{{Short description|Australian car manufacturer}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}} {{Infobox company | name = Elfin Sports Cars Pty Ltd | logo = 100px|ElfinHolden logo | slogan = | type = Private | foundation = 1959<ref name=Certificate>South Australia - Certificate of Registration of a Business Name, Elfin Sports Cars, 19 October 1959</ref> | founder = Garrie Cooper | location = Keysborough, Melbourne, Australia | key_people = Don Elliott<br /> Tom Walkinshaw Shaun Baker Steven Baker Phani Bhogavalli | num_employees = | parent = Young Timers Garage (YTG) | industry = Automotive | services = Automobile manufacturing | products = Elfin T5 Clubman<br /> Elfin MS8 Clubman<br /> Elfin MS8 Streamliner | homepage = [http://www.elfin.com.au/ www.elfin.com.au] }}
'''Elfin Sports Cars Pty Ltd''' (formerly known as Elfin Sports Cars<ref name=Certificate/>) is an Australian car manufacturer company that was founded by Garrie Cooper.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.elfinspiritofspeed.com.au|title=Elfin: The Spirit of Speed|first=David|last=Dowsey|publisher=Elfin Heritage Centre, 2020}}</ref> It has been an Australian manufacturer of sports cars and motor racing cars since 1959.
Elfin Sports Cars is currently owned by Young Timers Garage (YTG) after being purchased by the company in May 2023 from the Walkinshaw Group.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230608032259/https://www.v8sleuth.com.au/exclusive-elfin-sold-by-walkinshaw-group/ Aaron Noonan, Elfin Sold by Walkinshaw Group, 26 May 2023, www.v8sleuth.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org]</ref> It was previously owned by businessmen and historic racing enthusiasts Bill Hemming and Nick Kovatch (who remains as technical director) who purchased it in 1998.
Elfin is the oldest continuous sports car maker in Australia and one of the most successful with 29 championships and major Grand Prix titles.<ref>{{cite web |last=Round |first=Jason |title=Going for gold |publisher=HOT4s |url=http://www.hot4s.com.au/latestrides_elfin.php |access-date=12 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070903152527/http://www.hot4s.com.au/latestrides_elfin.php |archive-date=3 September 2007 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref> The original factory was located at Conmurra Avenue, Edwardstown in suburban Adelaide, South Australia. The company is currently located in Keysborough, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. thumb|Plaque at Conmurra Avenue in remembrance of Elfin
==History== The company was founded in South Australia as '''Elfin Sports Cars''' in October 1959<ref name=Certificate/> by Garrie Cooper, who would go on to be a champion race driver as well as a successful designer and builder of Elfin racing and sports-racing cars. In 1983, following the death of its founder the previous year, the firm was bought by Tasmanian Don Elliott, racing driver Tony Edmondson and mechanic John Porter who re-established the provision of parts and service to existing owners.{{fact|date=March 2024}}
Cooper died suddenly on ANZAC Day (25 April) in 1982, at the age of 46, from a burst aorta, due to the vessel's weakness from medication he took to thin his blood after a mid-1970s heart valve operation. Cliff Cooper, Garrie's father, completed outstanding orders, including six new generation Formula Vees, before offering the business for sale as well as designing a new Formula Vee, the Crusader, and a Formula Brabham car.<ref name="elfin1">{{cite web |url=http://www.elfin.com.au/elfin/2008/news/news.asp?ID=292 |title=Elfin Sports Cars – The Perfect Classic? – Australian Classic Car |publisher=Elfin.com.au |access-date=4 October 2010 |archive-date=6 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706103905/http://www.elfin.com.au/elfin/2008/news/news.asp?ID=292 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 1993, Victorian Murray Richards acquired Elfin and set out to build a new generation Elfin Clubman called the Type 3. In failing health, he sold Elfin to Bill Hemming and Nick Kovatch in 1998<ref name="elfin1"/> who relocated the business to Melbourne, Victoria.{{fact|date=March 2024}}
Elfin subsequently began a collaboration with GM Holden, revealing a concept MS8 Streamliner at the Melbourne International Motor Show in 2004. Limited production of two versions of the MS8 began in March 2006 and after the business was sold to Tom Walkinshaw (of HSV / Walkinshaw Performance) in December 2006, future limited production units were retailed Australia-wide via select HSV dealerships in each state.{{fact|date=March 2024}}
Following his death in December 2010, ownership of Elfin remained vested in the estate of Tom Walkinshaw ... but, there has been no further production of any Elfin cars since March 2012.{{fact|date=March 2024}}
In May, 2023, Elfin was sold to Shaun Baker, Steven Baker and Phani Bhogavalli of luxury car dealer, [https://www.ytg.co Young Timers Garage (YTG)], located in Keysborough, Victoria. [https://www.ytg.co YTG] have announced plans to revitalise the brand after it sat dormant for 10 years under the Walkinshaw ownership.{{fact|date=March 2024}}
[https://elfinheritage.com.au/ The Elfin Heritage Centre] dedicated to Elfin Sports Cars including Garrie Cooper’s first (Cooper Austin) and last (MR9 F5000) race cars, plus the prototype of his planned Formula Vee based road sports car. Opened in Melbourne on 16 August 2007, the centre features 24 current and historic vehicles and is open to the public.{{fact|date=March 2024}}
==Racing== Elfin drivers have won 29 championships and major races including:<br><br> '''Championships'''<br> Australian Sports Car Championship * 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975 Australian Formula Ford Series *1970, 1971, 1974, 1982 Australian Drivers' Championship * 1973, 1975 Rothmans International Series * 1979
'''Races'''<br> Australian Tourist Trophy * 1966, 1976, 1978 Singapore Grand Prix * 1968 Malaysian Grand Prix * 1968, 1969, 1972 New Zealand Grand Prix ** 1973, 1974 Rose City 10000 * 1978
Famous drivers of Elfin cars included {{f1|1976}} Formula One World Drivers' Champion James Hunt, and French F1 driver, Didier Pironi. Others included Australian F1 drivers Vern Schuppan and Larry Perkins, as well as John Bowe, Johnnie Walker, Frank Matich, John McCormack, Max Stewart, Kevin Bartlett, Bob Jane, Allan Grice, Peter Manton, Niel Allen and Mark Mclaughlin.
==Models==
===Recent vehicles=== In 2006, Elfin began producing two related V8-powered sports cars : the MS8 Streamliner and the MS8 Clubman. Thereafter, in 2008, Elfin introduced what might be termed an entry-level model, the turbocharged four cylinder T5 Clubman.
Engines for the MS8 cars were essentially standard production 5.7 litre Gen III V8s as supplied to GM Holden for their VZ-series Commodore vehicles. For the T5 Clubman, Pontiac-derived engines were supplied by GM Powertrain (USA).
The MS8 cars have significant power (circa 255kW) for their size and weight, but are infamous for "spirited" handling. Some media regarded the MS8 vehicles as somewhat disappointing, considering Elfin's motorsport history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.supercarworld.com/cgi-bin/showgeneral.cgi?390|title=Elfin MS8 review, specs, stats, comparison, rivals, data, details, photos and information on SupercarWorld.com|website=www.supercarworld.com|access-date=2020-02-10}}</ref>
Elfin vehicle production was officially in hiatus by March 2012, with ongoing enquiries at that time to be directed to the related Walkinshaw Performance business.
{{gallery |File:Yellow elfin ms8 streamliner.jpg|Elfin MS8 Streamliner |File:Elfin MS8 Clubman 2007.JPG|Elfin MS8 Clubman |File:Elfin t5.jpg|Elfin T5 Clubman ||title=}}
===Historic vehicles – Garrie Cooper era=== The original company produced 248 racing and sports racing cars in 27 different models over a 25-year period. {| class="wikitable" <hiddentext>generated with :de:Wikipedia:Helferlein/VBA-Macro for EXCEL tableconversion V1.4<\hiddentext> |- style="font-weight:bold" ! Model ! Total<ref name=Blanden&Catford>John Blanden & Barry Catford, Australia's Elfin Sports and Racing Cars, 1997</ref> ! Production ! Description ! Image |- | Streamliner | style="text-align:center;"| 23 | 1959–1963 | Sports racing car (front engined) | 250px |- | Formula Junior & Catalina | style="text-align:center;"| 20 | 1961–1964 | Formula Junior racing car & small capacity racing car. The two models differed only in minor specifications and the majority built were Formula Juniors.<ref name=Blanden&Catford/> | 250px |- | Clubman | style="text-align:center;"| 14 | 1961–1965 | Clubman sports car | 250px |- | Mallala | style="text-align:center;"| 5 | 1962–1964 | Sports racing car | 250px |- | Type 100 Mono | style="text-align:center;"| 19 | 1964–1969 | Australian 1½ Litre Formula racing car | 250px |- | Type 500 | style="text-align:center;"| 21 | 1965–1969 | Formula Vee racing car | 250px |- | Type 400 | style="text-align:center;"| 4 | 1966–1967 | Group A sports racing car (V8 powered)<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bissett|first1=Mark|title=Elfin 400/Traco Olds: Frank Matich, Neil Allan and Garrie Cooper|url=https://primotipo.com/2015/05/28/elfin-400traco-olds-frank-matich-niel-allen-and-garrie-cooper/|website=primotipo.com|date=28 May 2015 |access-date=30 April 2016}}</ref> | 250px |- | Type 300 | style="text-align:center;"| 6 | 1967–1969 | Sports racing car | 250px |- | 600/B/C/D/E | style="text-align:center;"| 27 | 1968–1971 | Racing car (various formulae) | 250px |- | 600 FF | style="text-align:center;"| 17 | 1969–1972 | Formula Ford racing car | 250px |- | Type 350 | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | 1969 only | Sports racing car | |- | ME5 | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | 1969 only | Group A sports racing car (V8 powered) | 250px |- | Type 360 | style="text-align:center;"| 3 | 1971 only | Sports racing car | 250px |- | MR5 | style="text-align:center;"| 4 | 1971–1972 | Australian Formula 1 racing car (F5000). The first F5000 car designed and built by Elfin. | 250px |- | 620FF / 620B<ref>[http://www.shannons.com.au/library/events/ELFIN.PDF ELFIN SPORTS CARS, www.shannons.com.au] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111133149/http://www.shannons.com.au/library/events/ELFIN.PDF |date=11 January 2022 }} Retrieved 25 June 2016</ref> | style="text-align:center;"| 20 | 1972–1975 | Formula Ford racing car | |- | 622 | style="text-align:center;"| 6 | 1972–1974 | Australian Formula 2 racing car | 250px |- | 623 | style="text-align:center;"| 8 | 1973–1974 | Australian Formula 3 racing car | 250px |- | MR6 | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | 1974 only | Australian Formula 1 racing car (F5000) | |- | MS7 | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | 1974 only | Sports racing car (V8 powered) | |- | 630 | style="text-align:center;"| 2 | 1974–1975 | Australian Formula 2 racing car | 250px |- | 700 | style="text-align:center;"| 7 | 1975–1977 | Australian Formula 2 racing car | 250px |- | MR8 | style="text-align:center;"| 3 | 1976–1978 | Australian Formula 1 racing car (F5000) | 250px |- | New Generation "NG" | style="text-align:center;"| 29 | 1976–1983 | Formula Vee racing car | |- | 792 | style="text-align:center;"| 3 | 1979 only | Australian Formula 2 racing car | |- | Aero FF | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | 1979 only | Formula Ford racing car | |- | GE Two-25 | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | 1980 only | Australian Formula 2 racing car | |- | MR9 | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | 1980 only | Australian Formula 1 racing car (F5000). The first open-wheel race car to be designed and built in Australia using ground effect aerodynamics. This remains the only F5000 car designed and constructed from the ground up with full ground effect aerodynamics.<ref>[http://www.oldracingcars.com/f5000/elfin/ Old Racing Cars – Elfin]</ref> | |- ! Total ! 248 ! colspan=3 | |} {{Clear}}
===Historic vehicles – The post–Garrie-Cooper era=== {| class="wikitable" <hiddentext>generated with :de:Wikipedia:Helferlein/VBA-Macro for EXCEL tableconversion V1.4<\hiddentext> |- style="font-weight:bold" ! Model ! Total ! Production ! width = 850|Description ! Image |- | FF84 | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | 1984 | Formula Ford racing car. | |- | NG "EP" | style="text-align:center;"| 8 | 1984–1986 | Edmondson-Porter run one of the NG Series Formula Vee racing cars. | |- | Crusader | style="text-align:center;"| 20<ref name="Shannon's">{{cite web|url=http://www.shannons.com.au/news/?id=I1E5C9ES4DZ3H15C |title=Celebrate with Elfin |publisher=Shannons.com.au |date=30 October 2008 |access-date=4 October 2010}}</ref> | Circa 1990<ref>[http://www.terrywalkersplace.com/Articles/FVeeStory.htm ''The Formula Vee Story'', www.terrywalkersplace.com] Retrieved 29 September 2015</ref> | Formula Vee racing car. | 250px |- | 852 | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | 1985 | Australian Formula 2 racing car driven by Mark Mclaughlin. | |- | FA891 | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | 1989 | Formula Holden racing car fielded in the 1989 Australian Drivers' Championship by Elfin Sports Cars driven by Mark Mclaughlin, winning the very first race of the new series at Mallala. Follow up orders from competitors were not forthcoming, largely preferring to import the latest British designs from Lola, Ralt and Reynard. The FA in FA891 was for the category's original working name, Formula Australia. | |- | Type 3 Clubman | style="text-align:center;"| 70<ref name="Shannon's" /> | 1998–2007 | Clubman sports car.<ref name=Type3>Elfin Clubman Type 3 advertisement, CAMS Magazine, Autumn 2003, page 21</ref> Powered by a supercharged Toyota 4AG ZE engine.<ref name=Type3/> | 250px |} {{Clear}}
==See also== {{Portal|Australia}} * List of automobile manufacturers * List of car brands
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category multi|Elfin vehicles|Elfin racing cars}} *[http://www.elfin.com.au/ Elfin Cars Pty Ltd] *[http://www.elfinheritage.com.au/ Elfin Heritage Centre] *[http://www.elfinspiritofspeed.com.au/ Elfin: The Spirit of Speed] *[https://archive.today/20121230092423/http://autoweb.drive.com.au/cms/A_100943/newsarticle.html Introducing the Holden Elfin MS8 Clubman and MS8 Streamliner] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20050409014312/http://www.motormachinists.co.nz/brianax.htm Brian Ax with a profile of Elfin] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070821140111/http://thomasr.org/blog/2007/07/elfin-video.html Video of Elfin Clubman and Streamliner MS8s] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110928124146/http://www.autopics.com.au/cache/searchl-ncache0public_nameLIKE_elfin_name_0-0.html?cache=no Elfin racing images] Retrieved from Autopics on 14 August 2008 *[http://www.supercarworld.com/cgi-bin/showgeneral.cgi?390 Elfin MS8 overview]
{{Elfin}} {{Lotus Seven}} {{Automotive industry in Australia}}
Category:Elfin Sports Cars Category:Australian brands Category:Australian racecar constructors Category:Lotus Seven replicas Category:Sports car manufacturers Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1957 Category:Australian companies established in 1957 Category:Car manufacturers of Australia Category:Formula Three constructors