Thread: Elfin Monocoque Type 100 - 1966 Mk2C Mono

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Originally Posted by Hunch

... Quite naive for all these various micro companies to build pure racing cars for a tiny market back then too...

Not necessarily - back then there were high tariffs and transport from the UK or US was relatively expensive (containers were just coming onto the scene I think), so local manufacture made sense. We also had companies who didn't mind chasing dreams as there were not all those 'management specialists' intent on maximising profit at the expense of all else.

Just my view.

Michael

Originally Posted by Michael G

Not necessarily - back then there were high tariffs and transport from the UK or US was relatively expensive (containers were just coming onto the scene I think), so local manufacture made sense. We also had companies who didn't mind chasing dreams as there were not all those 'management specialists' intent on maximising profit at the expense of all else.

Just my view.

Michael

A fair few overseas cars ended up here via dodgy means and abuses of the carnet system....and bits of junk shipped back to the UK, couple of the major constructors could be classed as crims on some of their later more extreme exploits too. Even in the heyday of open wheel in the 60s and early 70s, there's still only a handful of sales yearly, most of these companies struggled to have double digit sales over their entire existence, a triumph of hope over reality, even without the extra costs, most people on a few quid a week would never be able to afford a local factory built car.

The tariffs did give us a lot of special builders, with some near lethal as boat trailers. Only really long term "success" stories would be Ron Tauranac, who had to go offshore and Bob Britton, who is still going now for his own pleasure.

Walter looks hefty, luxury, a crane!

A couple of pics from recent forays to Rob Roy hill climb events

A late friend of mine worked at Repco Research in the late 1950s , they built a special race car with a hotted up Holden grey motor in it, my friend did the porting jobs on the special REPCO heads. The prototype Repco car was used at the filming of ON THE BEACH down at Phillip Island where Fred Astaire was driving . My friend told me he was a scrutineer at the race track filming and Fred Astaire was a very nice bloke.

This thread on the Lotus forum has a fair amount of detail showing Dad & I taking the skins off for a freshen up.


https://lotuselan.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=30312

Bryant Park Club Comp last month

The drawing at TAFE didn’t have the Elfin emblem, but I like it!

Random question.. realising the picture is four years old.
Where did you buy the zinc chromate primer?