Elva Model Cars - "Now and Then"

So often I find that delving into a new subject introduces me to many very knowledge and enthusiast people and I just love it. My relatively brief involvement in the production of high quality hand built models has been fascinating as modelling in general is a big growth industry and offering kits and built models based on the Elva range offers an effective way of waving the Elva 'flag'.

I set up a small 'Elva' window display in nearby Arundel and have been encouraged by how many people stop, discuss and point at the different model cars. Some come in to talk 'Elva' and the kids love it too ... "Wow Dad ... look at those racing cars!"

For many years I have had a collection of plastic kits mainly because it said 'Elva' on the boxes, or to be more specific they say 'McLaren-Elva'. Most of these were produced to satisfy the slot car market in the late Sixties and several of the major kit manufacturers offered a version of the McLaren-Elva M1A, and certainly the quality of the best is superb. The detailing on the current models can be absolutely stunning. The problem is that now I want one of each! This prompted me to further explore slot car racing and model slot cars and I have been amazed at the range of kits and built model cars that now exist and the wonderful response from the enthusiasts who support this worldwide organisation. A hugely helpful and knowledgable group.

In the smaller but still wonderfully detailed 1/43rd scale there are similar models. Some years ago, Tim Dyke of MPH made contact as he wanted to build a 1/43rd scale model of the 1965 Le Mans entered Elva-BMW GT160, and there is more about this on other pages on this site. More recently I took over the production of these kits and recreated further interest, and gently encouraged by this, I am about to offer two very different Elva models with just a small number currently being professionally built. Details will appear over the next few weeks.

Meanwhile I am hoping that the serious model collectors and the slot car builders can help contribute to a definitive list of 'Elva' model car kits produced over the years . To my knowledge there have been no diecast model cars of the various Elva types, but ... can you offer any further 'Elva' model information please?

McLaren-Elva M1A; M1B (Mk.2); M1C (Mk.3); M4A/B;
M6B and variants.

In slot car and curbside formats

Mini Exotics 1/25 USA; AMT 1/25 MEXICO; AMT 1/24 USA; Tamiya Models JAPAN, 1/24 SLOT RACER; AMT USA , 1/24 SLOT RACER; Carrera GERMANY, 1/24 SLOT RACER; Monogram 1/24 USA SLOT CAR; Jens Scale Racing Germany1/24; MAXi-MODELS UKin 1/32, and various offerings from MRC, K&B, Lindberg, Atlas, Russkit, Competition and Dynamic. Then there is Strombecker, and Vanquish. There are also various scale body options made to fit a slot car chassis and produced by a number of manufacturers including Auto Hobbies, Detail, Lancer, Classic and Shark. In the smaller 'HO' scale there is the Aurora #1397 slot car in various colours, and from the same maker there are 'Cigar Box' #6117 and T-Jet versions.

McLaren M6A	McLaren-Elva M1A	McLaren-Elva M1B (Mk.2)
McLaren-Elva M1A from Mini-Exotics which is an updated AMT in 1/24 scale.  Mini-Exotics also produce in 1/25 scale a rebodied M1B and the 'standard' M1B , all in kit form.	McLaren-Elva M1B beautifully built by Jens Scale Racing and offered as kit or built.	McLaren-Elva M1C version again by Jens Scale Racing.
The M1B (Mk.2) from Mini-Exotics.	Just one of the superb McLaren M6 variants offered by MAXi-MODELS both in 'works' and 'Privateer' versions as kit and built. 1/32 scale.	Excellent Monogram M1A in the Race Car Show colours built by Phil Smith prepared for the 2004 S/C  event in Turin.

McLaren-Elva M1B (Mk.2)

John Day UK , early white metal kit 1/43rd.

Various in 1/43rd scale ...

Most available in kit or built versions...

MPH (UK) ... Tim Dyke offers stunning models and included the GT160 in his Le Mans range now being produced to the same standard by Elva Racing.

Kaiser (Hungary) ... Rudolf Kaiser offered the Elva-Porsche with other Mk.7S versions planned.

1964 McLaren M1A; Bruce McLaren at Riverside.	1965 McLaren M1B; Bruce McLaren at Riverside.	1966 McLaren M1B works car.
1967 McLaren M6A works car.	Marsh Models (UK) ... John Simon is another top modeller who produces super detailed versions of the early McLaren-Elva including versions driven McLaren, Hill, Gurney, Amon in the appropriate race or 'works' liveries. The McLaren range is well covered by these highly detailed and much sort after models.

Axel'r (France) ... Roger Dutemple has a real passion for Elva and first produced the excellent model of the Stepak campaigned Mk.8S. Subsequently the 'two Rogers' have worked together to offer the Amon driven McLaren team coloured Mk.8, built versions of the BMW powered GT160 in road and Le Mans trim, a unique 'Gold' version of the car celebrating the ELVA Jubilee year and a lovely 'current' race version of the Buick powered GT160. More to come ...
First Elva model from Axel'r of the race winning Mk.8 (BMW) of Sylvain Stepak.	Race version of the V8 Buick engined Elva GT160.	The Mk.8 Chris Amon/McLaren Team car produced with ELVA Racing as Limited Edition with signed certificate.

The wonderful ELVA-BMW GT160 which ran at Le Mans in 1965 driven by Tony Lanfranchi and Sir Richard Wrottesley.	ELVA Racing (UK) ... All said above EXCEPT there are two very special and quality built Elva models to be released (hopefully) in July. Very limited numbers and will be built to order.
special and Limited Edition version of the Mk.8S built for the Jubilee year in gold paintwork and birthday decals.	The road version of the ELVA-BMW GT160 available in the three colours of the prototype cars built in 1964, red white and blue.	The road version of the ELVA-BMW GT160 available in the three colours of the prototype cars built in 1964, red white and blue.

Courier (South Africa) ... a very enthusiastic but rather simple model offered of the earlier Courier. Needs work to approach the standard of all of the professional builds featured above but nevertheless good to see a Courier option.

Scratch built