Sunday, March 17, 2019

Now where is Elfin chassis #8772

This Elfin race car body was made by the team’s body fabricator John Webb and subsequently used in the 1977 Can Am season. It was fitted to Elfin chassis #8772, which was driven by Vern Schuppen. After the season of nine races, the aluminum body was removed and put into storage. The previous owner was an SCCA racer who acquired it from a race shop in southern California, where it had sat unused. Eight years ago, the seller acquired the body and put it on display in his garage. The bare-metal finish retains sponsor stickers and painted advertisements as shown below. This one-off Elfin Can Am body is now offered in Portland, Oregon.
1977 Elfin Can Am Body
The aluminum body was made in 1977 for Elfin’s single-seat racer, but was reportedly replaced the following year with a fiberglass version. Vern Schuppan is identified on the side as the driver and had been named rookie of the year at the Indy 500 the prior year. He would later win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Rothmans Porsche 956 co-driven by Hurley Haywood and Al Holbert.
1977 Elfin Can Am Body
The bare aluminum features painted advertisements for Barrett’s Classic Cars (Tom Barrett of Barrett-Jackson) and Australian Ford dealer Bryan Byrt. Number 11 is retained on the front nose and wing uprights, and several vents and air scoops adorn the bodywork.
1977 Elfin Can Am Body
This body has reportedly not been modified or used since the end of the 1977 racing season. The seller states it spent the last 40 years in either storage or displayed as garage art. No additional parts are included.

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