Elfin MS8 Streamliner Now In Production

[JoeT]

Elfin Gets The Green Light

Wheels Staff
4 July 2006
www.wheels.ninemsn.com.au

After months of battling homologation issues, Elfin’s MS8 Streamliner has finally been approved for production.

Nearly 50 years after the first Streamliner debuted under Garrie Cooper's Elfin Sports Car Company banner in 1959, a new generation is set to roll off the production line.

The highly-anticipated MR8 Streamliner concept caused a big fuss when it was revealed on the Holden stand at the Melbourne Motor Show in 2004, but it’s been a lengthy struggle to gain compliance as a production model.

Wheels tested the pre-production model back in September 2005, and, even then, the car only just scraped through restrictive ADR noise regulations. Meeting production compliance without compromising engine output, combined with new emissions standards introduced at the start of the year, have conspired to delay the Elfin’s progress.

But last week, the final hurdle was overcome. Elfin has since announced the official start of production for the MS8 Streamliner, with the MS8 Clubman model expected to pass its Australian Design Rule compliance within four months.

This next generation of diminutive V8 road rockets have some Holden flare, both outside and in. Former Holden Design Director and Monaro resurrector Mike Simcoe assisted in their design, and both models also share the Holden Gen III 5.7-litre V8 producing 245kW and 465Nm. But with only two seats, no roof, a lightweight body and minimal mod-cons, the Elfin Streamliner weighs in at just 1090kg, meaning a formidable power-to-weight ratio.

Production of both the Streamliner and the Clubman will be limited to 100 units, with the first of 50 Streamliners expected to roll off the Melbourne-based production line within months.

Five cars have already been sold to Walkinshaw Performance, a new performance company run by Scottish racing and business identity Tom Walkinshaw. The new company has signed on with Elfin to assist in the final stages of production, and to run track days with the cars for enthusiasts and prospective clientele.

Elfin will sell the model through its Victorian base in Braeside, and in NSW through Pagani importer Supercar Investments, which hopes to have its demonstrator within a fortnight.

The Streamliner is made to order, takes approximately three months to build, and starts at $119,475. While the cost is well below the $128,480 price we quoted nine months ago, the Streamliner is still a far cry from Elfin’s archetypal hand-built kit cars (the Type 3 Clubman kit still sells through the company for $39,450).

Three options will be available: mica paint ($3500), a remote sound system mounted in the boot ($1800) and a gullwing hardtop ($4000).

Once it passes homologation, the Clubman will come in under six figures at $98,785,

www.elfin.com.au

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[redimpss5]

To bad we can't get them!

[Joevette]

sick, cant beat the LS motors

notice the GTO rims, this thing must be crazy quick weighing that much

[MonaroSS]

All the car you need and not a kilo/pound exta.



Unless you really want to shed the weight and get the open wheeler version.



Of course an LS2 or LS7 should fit in there nicely too.

[Martino_z]

$3500 for metallic paint. hmm... sounds fair.

[Randle2I]

Originally Posted by Martino_z

$3500 for metallic paint. hmm... sounds fair.

It's about as fair as Porsche's option prices. I was really liking this thing....till I saw the price. $120K for that is pretty steep. If I had the money though I'd hit that open wheel version every day of the week.

[ZvetteGuy]

that is awesome! I think I want to see the performance times on these road rockets...

[Ty_99]

that is a crazy little roadster. Brings to mine as a modern day Cobra. Looks awesome too.

[01cavalier]

Wow, very light. Would sure be awesome! Not crazy aobut the front end, but still awesome.

[ChevroletRevived]

Cool..I always like it when a little car company comes along and produces something different.

[AnthonyHSV]

They are made down the road from my parents place you see them zip around Boundary Rd all the time.

[Aych Es Vee]

Fantastic.

I hope they keep making money to one day make more range of cars

[jbernie]

Nothing like a big company (Holden) providing some assistance to a smaller company to give it a boost, obiously there is no competition but too many companies don't want to get involved. They are some sweet looking cars, would defn turn some heads over here in the US. Just don't think the open top will work here for the Colorado winters

[ChevroletRevived]

Originally Posted by AnthonyHSV

They are made down the road from my parents place you see them zip around Boundary Rd all the time.

Haha, that's pretty cool.

[MonaroSS]

Originally Posted by jbernie

Nothing like a big company (Holden) providing some assistance to a smaller company to give it a boost, obiously there is no competition but too many companies don't want to get involved. They are some sweet looking cars, would defn turn some heads over here in the US. Just don't think the open top will work here for the Colorado winters

Haven't seen a pic yet, but there is a gull-wing hard top option.