2017 Greater Vancouver Motorsport Pioneers Society 1

CORT ELLIOTT

Pioneer - Custom Car and Hot Rod - Inducted 2017

By Cort Elliott and Keith Warren Nominated by Sylvia Braddick

Cort Elliott’s 1951 Chevrolet.

Cort Elliott was an avid car enthusiast even before he was eligible for a driver’s license. He built a 1:25 scale model of a neighbour’s 1941 Ford coupe using balsa wood, paper, tinplate and model aircraft wheels.

His first real car was a 1942 Plymouth coupe that he mildly customized with scallops and striping by Jim Greenwood. He was a member of the Golden Customs Car Club during this time.

Other cars followed: a partial restoration of a 1941 Graham Hollywood and a 1932 Ford . Then, one fateful day, George Wosniak mentioned he was planning on selling a 1951 Chev coupe that he was having customized by Jack Williams. Cort bought the car and had Jack continue the customizing which included chopping the top, 1958 Lincoln quad headlights, a custom tube grill, 1956 Packard Clipper taillights and a 1956 Chev rear bumper. Fred Welsh painted the car a beautiful pearlescent burgundy lacquer. another change included 1958 Thunderbird seats upholstered in bronze naugahyde by Autocraft. A 265 cu. in. Chev engine was also installed. At the time the Chev was licensed for the road, Cort became a member of the Shifters Car Club.

The car was nicknamed “Carried Away” and won awards at Vancouver’s Pacific International Motorama, the Portland Roadster Show and the Seattle World’s Fair Show.

The Chev was featured in the December 1963 issue of Car Craft and was named as one of the Ten Best Custom Cars for 1963.

Following the sale of the customized 1951, Cort had a 1957 Chev and a 1967 Mustang GTA 390 before buying a 1965 Corvette 327 with 300 hp. He then became a member of the Corvette Club and was president of the club during the initial proposal to host an international convention at the Vancouver Hotel. This event included a rally through Stanley Park.

Other cars followed the Corvette, until ownership and restoration of a 1964 Porsche 356SC coupe led to membership in the Porsche Club of America. Placing second at a Concours event (1.5 points off first place), Cort enjoyed the drive home afterwards, while the first place car was trailered home. Cort became Concours chairman responsible for planning the club’s commitment for a display at Expo 86, and subsequently became President of the Porsche Club of America, Canada West region.

Continuing on the theme of enjoying great drives, Cort modified a 1981 VW Scirocco. He swapped in an Audi 80 2 litre “bubble block” with all European GTI chassis and suspension parts, Brembo disc brakes, Momo wheels, and a free flow exhaust system. Minor body changes included removal/blanking car logos, Euro-style bumpers, Zender grill and body side mouldings. A leather interior with modified sports seats completed the project.

Cort is retired from the general insurance industry and now lives with his wife Margaret in Nanaimo, with easy access to good scenic drives.

Cort Elliott, 2007

1941 Ford coupe model made by Cort.

2 2017 Greater Vancouver Motorsport Pioneers Society

Above: Cort, age 23, with the 1951 Chev.

Above: the Porsche 356SC. Below: the 1981 VW Scirocco.

Above: 1965 Corvette.

Below: the December 1963 Car Craft story.