Holden and Elfin show MS8 CLUBMAN AND MS8 STREAMLINER

Holden showed two retro-cool V8 racer roadsters at the Melbourne Motor Show. Created in collaboration with the Elfin sports car marque, the low-slung racers are an open wheeler track machine and a smooth-bodied Le Mans style roadster respectively, and will be called the Clubman and the Streamliner. They are hand-built specials which are thoroughly modern interpretations of an earlier motorsport era.

Holden showed two retro-cool V8 racer roadsters at the Melbourne Motor Show. Created in collaboration with the Elfin sports car marque, the low-slung racers are an open wheeler track machine and a smooth-bodied Le Mans style roadster respectively, and will be called the Clubman and the Streamliner. They are hand-built specials which are thoroughly modern interpretations of an earlier motorsport era.

The Clubman MS8 track racer and roadgoing Streamliner MS8 show cars boast full design treatment by Holden and the performance of the Gen III 5.7 litre V8 powertrain, while sports chassis design and construction is by the Elfin Sports Car company.

Aimed squarely at the weekend club racer and historic vehicle enthusiast market, the V8 roadsters will be hand-built to order by Elfin with production expected to begin later this year.

Michael Simcoe, Holden's Executive Director Design, Asia Pacific, said the project highlighted the exhilarating performance potential to be realised by matching Holden's 245kW Gen III V8, six-speed gearbox, limited slip diff, ABS and traction control systems to a lightweight space frame with custom suspension and other specialised racing componentry.'Given the Elfin power to weight ratio of 3.57kg/kW, (Clubman MS8) we estimate a 0-100 km/h time of about 3.5 seconds.

This package of pure power, great chassis dynamics and looks to match is enough to place them right up there in the serious sports car league,' Simcoe said.Bill Hemming, Joint Managing Director of Elfin Sports Cars, said the Streamliner and Clubman MS8 project made the best use of each organisation's strengths.

'This project successfully leveraged Holden's design know-how and resources with Elfin's specialist skill in hand-built racing chassis production,' he said. 'The synergy between us was amazing. I guess that's what happens when one bunch of car buffs meets another,' said Hemming.

'Elfin will take all enquiries and orders from prospective buyers and we'll build the vehicles at our production facility in Murrumbeena (Victoria). Elfin owns the intellectual property rights to the vehicles and we will manage all sales, marketing and warranty issues,' Mr Hemming added.

Elfin utilised Holden's advanced CAD and ALIAS resources to help design and build a multi-tubular space frame that would accommodate the V8 powertrain and deliver two-seater comfort. The Streamliner MS8 and Clubman MS8 share the same proportions - long wheelbase (2290 mm), wide track (front 1460mm, rear 1430mm), custom-tuned suspension, racing brakes, 18-inch wheels and low profile 245/40 tyres. Streamliner's length is 3,500mm, 300 mm longer than the open wheeler Clubman at 3,200mm. Elfin's independent suspension set-up features specifically developed components.

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