Was there an Elford Series 1?

[Chud]

So directed at all you Elford fellas, as per title was there an SA Elford Turbo?

Emptied the one in my shed today - the one with the wing


And discovered this



And it's key fob



Wondering whether this is a car that passed through their hands with just the addition of a wing or maybe it had more done. The original plates have Bournemouth Mazda as it's origin....

[ian65]

that's very interesting Tim..... they did produce a few series 1 turbo cars but as far as I know, these were the intial prototype cars built by Elfords before the formation of Elford Turbo Ltd when they really got to grips with it. Here's what I know about them....

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=35

maybe your car was one of these early prototypes..... shame it hasn't still got the setup on it, that would have been interesting to see

[Chud]

That is interesting - the rear wing sure does look similar to the one in the picture.....

[ian65]

from what I've read, these early prototypes were sent out as press cars so maybe yours has been mentioned or photographed somewhere..... what was the reg?

[A7RXY]

The first Turbo (Elford) I saw was at the Richard Knight Cars Service Garage in Kilburn back in '81, it was the famous pea green in colour. It was owned and driven by the service manager I can't remeber his name but I think he used to race at sometime, and it was a SA.

[TOOL]

You could certainly make one dude. It's just a normal RX7 with a few trick bits fitted. It's not like an Elford is a factory option.

Build it!

[ian65]

the series 1 Elfords were different though....... fabricated manifolds etc so it wouldn't look like an authentic s1 Elford..... not that that would really matter...... just thought I'd mention it!

here's a early Elford setup I think. Note the original fabricated inlet manifold, in stainless by the looks of it, built before deciding to really go for it and get decent manifolds cast.



its a photo from this 1982 book (bloody good book btw) which i have just been given..

[mullins]

That looks very similar to what the Ozzies were doing in the 80s. Does it say it's an Elford in the article? I notice the turbo and it's position are all different in addition to the inlet manifold. Infact very little appears to be the same.

[ian65]

That looks very similar to what the Ozzies were doing in the 80s. Does it say it's an Elford in the article? I notice the turbo and it's position are all different in addition to the inlet manifold. Infact very little appears to be the same.

there's another pic of it in the S1 on page 38 of the e-book along with a magazine article of the series 1 Elfords......