Elva Owners Instruction Book

[Courier IV-T]

Does anyone have an extra Owners manual for an Elva Courier... or perhaps have one and willing to make copies (legal as it is out of print)... in order to assist a new owner of an Elva MKIV - T . I am sure any Elva Courier maintenance or operations booklet would be useful even if not for my specific model.

Thanks you, Mac

[GaryH]

Hi Mac. If its any help I do have an original owners handbook for the Mk 2 Courier (acquired via ebay) which is described on the front as "Elva Courier 1622cc Owner's Instruction Book". Interestingly, the handbook contains many direct 'lifts' from the official MGA handbook published around the same time period - both text and diagrams - and is a very interesting document. I'll try and photograph the handbook in its entirety for you over the coming week or so and upload the same. Gary

[Courier IV-T]

Thank you GaryH,

It does as you mention appear much of the drive train is covered in the relevant MG manuals. AND, seeing that in the context of the Elva context is handy for those of us that have little experience with British cars. As to suspension, it looks like the IV-T front end is probably Triumph sourced, what I am less clear on is the design of the rear suspension on Cliff's car. Not sure if it is what Elva designed or if it has been upgraded when the car was raced or when Mr. Graham Straub and subsequently Mr. Murray saved and restored the car.

Learning is living.

Best and cheers, MacM

[GaryH]

Hi MacM - just for clarity - the handbook I have is just that i.e. an Elva Handbook and NOT an Elva manual. It is really a handbook guide detailing servicing, maintenance, adjustments etc on the Elva Courier and I’m very happy to copy it and upload it as promised. I don’t believe though that it will throw too much light on the construction of your vehicle’s rear suspension but I hope some of its contents may be useful to you in some way. Gary

[GaryH]

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[Courier IV-T]

Gary H,

Quite a thoughtful gift to all of the Elva Owners out there that did not get an owners instruction book with their cars. As you mention... user instruction basics, still nice to have for these cars.

Have not figured how to download the attachment but if / when I do I may be able to put into a PDF so members if they want a copy can print up easily.

Thank you.

[GaryH]

My pleasure. I did notice a few little quirks whilst copying and preparing the handbook for uploading and one of them was the fact that it refers twice to the fact that this is the handbook for the Courier MK II (see handbook page 3). However, on the previous page (handbook page 2 - ‘General Data’) the engine capacity is shown as “1622cc”. In fact, as far as I am aware, the 1622cc engine was actually used in the MK III and not the MK II and this appears to be confirmed in the Engine Charts listed in the forum section - “Courier Engine Questions? Some Answers!”.

In fact, the engine in my own MK II (engine number 48G157 RS 13316) is a 1598cc engine and not 1622cc and this seems to be correct for all MK II Couriers built between 1959 - 1961 and is in compliance with the aforementioned Engine Charts. I do wonder if this handbook was initially drawn up for the MK III but then additionally used for a few late MK II’s by simply changing the printed designation on page 3. There is certainly a very large printing gap that would accommodate “MK III” instead of “MK II”.

Lastly, other than the rather obvious ‘copying and pasting’ of many diagrams from the MGA 1489cc handbook (part AKD598G) there is a glaring error on page 37 of the Courier Handbook where the text incorrectly refers to “Hand Brake Adjustment’ when shown alongside the diagram of clutch and brake master cylinders and then on page 41 refers to “The Combined Brake and Clutch Master Cylinder filler cap” when shown alongside the diagram of the handbrake cable adjuster. But I guess, for a “First Edition” errors should really be both expected and cherished.