Magnificent stories often originate from humble beginnings. And so it is with Elfin Sports Cars.
Built in a Besser Block factory in suburban Adelaide, Elfin's products were at the vanguard of competitive Australian motorsport from the late 1950s until the premature death of founder Garrie Cooper, at just 46 years of age, in 1982.
From spritely closed-wheel sports cars to ferocious V8-powered Formula 5000s the greatest Australian drivers of the time – including Vern Schuppan, John McCormack, Larry Perkins, John Bowe, Frank Matich, Kevin Bartlett and Spencer Martin, and international luminaries, Formula One World Champion, James Hunt, and Ferrari ace, Didier Pironi – drove Elfin to 29 major Australian titles, along with winning the Singapore, Malaysian, and New Zealand Grands Prix along the way.
Today almost every Elfin built remains extant and many are still competing in historic motorsport, the ultimate testament to the skilful engineering and incredible ingenuity of Elfin Sports Cars.
With a foreword by ex-Formula One driver and Le Mans 24-Hour winner, Vern Schuppan AM, Elfin: The Spirit of Speed goes behind the legend to expose the extraordinary tales, many yet untold, from those closest to the manufacturer: family members, drivers, team members, employees, and Elfin owners; in fact more than 50 interviews were conducted by author, David Dowsey.
Specially commissioned studio photography by Richard Weinstein along with period historic images bring the story to life, while extremely high production values – and an imposing 704 page count – create a fitting legacy to this great Australian story.
Elfin: The Spirit of Speed is a magnificent story beautifully told.
Elfin: The Spirit of Speed, available in three editions, is available from the Elfin Heritage Centre.