Frank Nichols was born in Bexhill in 1920. In the late 1940s he opened a small garage in Pevensey with his savings and army gratuity. Subsequently he moved the business into Bexhill at the London Road Garage where the first Elva -“Elle va” French for she goes – car appeared in 1955.
Some 20 to 25 cars were built that year. Cars for track and road were produced but most of the racing successes were achieved in the United States and were ignored in Britain.
In 1961 the original firm went under. The Courier sports project was sold to Trojan. Elva Cars (1961) Ltd opened in Rye making Formula Junior and sports racing cars. Trojan finally took over Elva in 1964.