PURPOSE: To provide an electrically heatable composite catalytic converter for converting the contaminants in exhaust gas flow to more environmentally permissible exhaust gases.

CONSTITUTION: This core element for an electrically heatable catalytic converter core is constituted to include (a) a thin metal foil strip of a non-telescopic corrugated shape having a predetermined length and predetermined width and having the length larger than the width and (b) at least one flat thin metal foil strip having the width substantially narrower than the predetermined width, provided that the foil is linearly wound together around an electrically conductive central rod.