Elva Courier Forum

The 1958 through 1963 Couriers look similar, but there were three body designs from the four factories.
Engines ranged from 1500cc to 1622cc "B" series during that time, with Ford Cortina 1500 GT, Ford 1600pr, and 1800cc MGB offered in the 1964-66 Courier Mk.4 besides the 1622 base engine.
Interior design was unique to each model.

Get to know these details and know your Courier. Bill Bennett's excellent chart may help locate manufacturer numbers. Thanks Bill!

Gary C



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2024-04-05 02:39 PM by CossaboonG.

2025 updates to the Old Survey...


#15. Windscreen, windshields on the Trojan Mk.3 Courier is 5/8" shorter than Hastings Mk.2. . . . (Thanks to Lon McKinstry)
__ __ __ They can be interchanged only if you use the matching top bows and header; curtains and top custom trimmed to your car.


#17 Courier Mk.4-T (IRS) brakes can use AH3000 calipers 14 G; TR4 rotors must be cut substantially in thickness, but the hat offset is correct. . . . (Thanks to Dan Suter)
__ __ __ More information to come as the engineers sort the front brakes (June 2025)
__ __ __ __ __ __ Rear drum diameter of 10" for the TR4 "big brake" option. "



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025-06-25 01:19 PM by CossaboonG.

Item 22. Dash design, Photos of each mark

Ray Hoeper's 1958 perfect time capsule 100/6/L, all gauges in front of the driver

Al Chicote's Mk.II with gauges above the tunnel, "central dash". 100/142/L

Mike Stone's Mk.3 showcar with three large gauges in a rounded cowl, back in front of the driver

Mike McCarthy's Mk.4-T has twin hump cowl, steel doors with wind-up windows. Cliff Murray pic

Items 15 - 18 - 25

Courier 1500 export 10/6/L note the split vee glass and marker, blinker lights above the body beltline.

1959 Courier Spyder 300 has a shortened, raked split screen and minimal marker light. Note also the vent blister between bonnet and screen. Unique to Spyder 300 SR

Mk.II 1600 export and most* Courier 200/xx/R has a one-piece curved windscreen and the blinkers moved to a moulded plinth below the beltline

Mk.3 show car E1043 continues the Hastings body, blinker plinths; but the Trojan windshield is 5/8" shorter requiring its own frame and top bows (hood sticks)
Mike Stone's beauty also wears the mailslot hood scoop (bonnet vent). Not all Mk.3 Couriers had the scoop, yet it was not an option. Further discussion welcomed.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2026-01-20 07:31 PM by FrankBalistreri.

Items 15 - 18 continued Front body, windshield Courier Mk.4

The Courier Mk.4 nose was restyled with a wide grille. The ex-Sibilius open white car shows this design. The mustache bumpers are cast into the fiberglass, not separate pieces. Smaller blinker mounting plinth.

Also seen on some Mk.4 is the triple opening grille. Here on a GT . . . (Was it only on closed body cars?) . . . Further input welcome, photos please.

All the known lightweight C4 race cars carried over a "small mouth" grille opening, probably more aero, reminiscent of the early Couriers. This is Cliff Murray's E1140 lightweight, red car #11 DP
Realize that the well known Sebring Couriers, that have been photographed recently, have had damaged noses replaced with the wide mouth style body, as available at that time.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2025-08-23 08:21 PM by CossaboonG.

2026 survey updated

Look for a new Courier owners survey in your email box.
Contact me if you do not receive the 2026 mailing. ( spam filter? Not on the EOC email list?? )

There are several changes, additions, and corrections to note.

Post your progress photos here on the Forum, photo and videos topic.




Thanks, again, to Chris Patterson for the tech help!


Gary C



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026-01-09 06:43 AM by CossaboonG.

Not trying to confuse you here; you can ignore the original older (2015-2024) versions of the Survey and respond with this new 2026 chart.

Attempt 3 for clarity