HSV's Tom Walkinshaw Buys Iconic Elfin Sportscar Company - Australia's Lotus?

[JoeT]

Walkinshaw Buys Elfin - Exports, Dealer Network & More

Mike Sinclair
11 December 2006
www.carpoint.com.au

HSV owner and motorsport identity, Tom Walkinshaw has purchased iconic Aussie marque Elfin… And has big plans for the local sportscar builder.

Scottish motorsport identity and automotive wheeler dealer, Tom Walkinshaw has bought Australian sportscar specialist, Elfin.

The owner of HSV and other key automotive performance operations around the globe, Walkinshaw purchased the tiny Australian marque earlier this month. The purchase follows an eight-month consultative period during which Walkinshaw staff have revamped Elfin's production processes and helped secure ADR compliance for the iconic sportscar maker's Holden V8-powered Clubman and Streamliner models.

Elfin will continue to operate from its premises in Braeside in Melbourne's south east, but will sell its cars across Australasia, the UK and other export markets.

Established in 1956 and producing its first car in 1957 (next year will be the marque's 50th anniversary), Elfin has been under the tutelage of partners Nick Kovatch and Bill Hemming since 1998. Kovatch will stay with the new operation as its Technical Director, however, Hemmings is leaving to pursue other interests.

Though the company was known in enthusiast circles for its traditional four-cylinder Lotus 7 style sportscars, Elfin shot into the media spotlight when the V8-powered MS8 Clubman and Streamliner were launched on the Holden stand at the Melbourne Motor Show in March 2004.

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New Owner Wants Elfin To Be Australia's Lotus

Neil McDonald
13 December 2006
www.goauto.com.au

Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) owner Tom Walkinshaw has taken over the Melbourne-based niche sportscar marque Elfin and intends to turn it into Australia’s answer to Lotus.

In a multi-million-dollar deal which has taken the past eight months to conclude, the new Walkinshaw Performance outfit will take Elfin’s Mike Simcoe-designed MS8 Clubman and MS8 Streamliner sportscars and develop an export program to the UK and left-hand drive countries including the US.

The Elfin cars will also soon be sold through select HSV dealers across Australia, enabling prospective customers to visit a showroom and drive demonstrator cars.

Under the direction of HSV director and now Walkinshaw Performance chief executive Chris Payne, Elfin has revamped its production processes to secure Australian and overseas design rules compliance for the Chev 5.7-litre V8-powered MS8s.

The added clout of the Walkinshaw Group behind Elfin could also result in the development of a more mainstream passenger sportscar – in the vein of Lotus – to sell alongside the MS8.

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More Elfin Related News

[DanCBJMS1988]

That's news!
So now I'm wondering if Elfin will be exported outside of Oz?

[stevecmh]

those are some really sweet looking cars

[Aerodynamix]

Originally Posted by DanCBJMS1988

That's news!
So now I'm wondering if Elfin will be exported outside of Oz?

Yes.

Originally Posted by JoeT

Elfin will continue to operate from its premises in Braeside in Melbourne's south east, but will sell its cars across Australasia, the UK and other export markets.

I really like the Clubman. Can someone confirm if the 5.7L Alloy V8 they use is sourced from Holden?

[aball]

Originally Posted by Aerodynamix

I really like the Clubman. Can someone confirm if the 5.7L Alloy V8 they use is sourced from Holden?

Yep. It's out of the VY/VZ Commodore SS. I wonder if it'll be replaced by the VE's 6.0 litre.

[BlokeMan]

Yep, 245 kw Gen III sourced from Holden.

[commodorecoops]

Apparently you can get the old Callaway donk too. The 300kW (403HP) 5.7 from the VT-VY GTS. Or they were thinking about it or something I'm not sure but I was reading about a HSV powered 300kW Elfin somewhere a while ago.

[TKR]

Originally Posted by aball

Yep. It's out of the VY/VZ Commodore SS. I wonder if it'll be replaced by the VE's 6.0 litre.

You would have to think so as the Gen 3 is no longer in production.
Seeing as TW has bought the company and his links with HSV, maybe an LS2?
400hp in a 925 kg (1850lbs) car........yeeee haaaaa baby

[ykickamoocow]

The thing which i find exciting is the price. Too get a Ferrari with equal performance capabilities you would need to spend alot more than $100000 AU dollars. I would love to see the engine produce more power though because 245 KW isnt alot when you consider that its got a 5.7L engine. From my memory the with the same engine the Holden Monaro produced 280 KW so there is no reason why the Elfin cant produce that amount as well.

[Bhodie]

I'm not much of a fan of the Streamliner but the Clubman looks great.

Would love to take one out for a fang around a track.

[commodorecoops]

Originally Posted by ykickamoocow

From my memory the with the same engine the Holden Monaro produced 280 KW so there is no reason why the Elfin cant produce that amount as well.

Na, the last Munro had 260. But remember the VTII Commodore only had 220. That was the first Holden to get the GenIII.

The 505HP 7 litre GenIV would be nice...

[ykickamoocow]

Originally Posted by commodorecoops

Na, the last Munro had 260. But remember the VTII Commodore only had 220. That was the first Holden to get the GenIII.

The 505HP 7 litre GenIV would be nice...

Can Elfin put a supercharger in the car like Vauxhall did with the Monaro?

[commodorecoops]

Originally Posted by ykickamoocow

Can Elfin put a supercharger in the car like Vauxhall did with the Monaro?

The engine barely fits as it is, so I doubt it.

[ykickamoocow]

Originally Posted by commodorecoops

The engine barely fits as it is, so I doubt it.

Its a pitty as a good supercharger can add over 75 KW or 100 bhp which would be absolutely amazing.

[mikmak]

I remember Peter Brock saying how it was an exciting little sports car but needed some work to sort the suspension. Hopefully Walkinshaw can sort it out. As for wanting more than 245KW in a car that weighs less than a 1000kgs, that's just greedy.