There have been a number of projects reviving old companies, either by purchasing the brand name or the complete assets of a defunct company. Many revivals shine briefly with new models in classic shapes made with modern materials, brakes and suspension. Some fail, probably due to the high cost of low volume production and limited demand.
Marcos Motor Company Ltd, which owns the original assets of the iconic Marcos brand, dating back to 1959, has announced new plans. These involve development programmes which will see the first new Marcos cars for around 20 years.
Three separate vehicle programmes are currently being evaluated, with physical prototypes in development. Together they span classic Marcos models and all-new cars, for both road and track.
Project #1 is a faithful reimagining of a much-loved Marcos with a recognisable silhouette but a contemporary platform and drivetrain. It’s being used to test new in-house capabilities but is being developed for possible track use. The first prototype has already run.
Project #2 is an all-new vehicle with the potential for both road and track. A complete crash-tested and homologated rolling chassis has been engineered and built, and is undergoing further evaluation. The car will honour the ethos of light weight, simplicity and seat-of-the-pants handling.
Project #3 is for continuation cars. With ownership of the original body moulds, manufacturing tooling and jigs for almost every Marcos model produced since the company’s inception over 65 years ago, Marcos Motor Company can produce faithful contemporary versions. And with ownership of the manufacturing and brand rights, any continuation car will be authentically and officially Marcos, down to the iconic logo marque.
Marcos Motor Company will continue to provide its Marcos Heritage Spares genuine parts, servicing, maintenance and repairs offering to existing customers.
Marcos Highlights
The Marcos brand has always punched well above its weight. It is peppered with firsts, remarkable achievements and famous names.
- Early cars were raced by future F1 world champion Jackie Stewart, F1 driver and team owner Jackie Oliver, and F1 driver and multiple Le Mans winner Derek Bell
- The cars were developed with know-how from the DeHavilland Mosquito fighter-bomber
- They were the world’s first monocoque chassis cars – setting the standard for modern race-car design
- The Mini Marcos lapped the entire field on its debut and was the highest-place British finisher in the 1966 Le Mans race
- It set four land speed records for 1600cc cars – which it still holds
- The Marcos GT was bought by 1960s and 1970s pop stars including Rod Stewart, the Walker Brothers, Marmalade and Paul Jones of Manfred Mann, and was chosen as an alternative to the Volvo P1800 for Roger Moore in The Saint
- In the late 1970s a GT launched the career of F1 driver Dr Jonathan Palmer
- Evolutions of the GT won British and European GT series titles in the 1990s and 2000s
- The 1998 Mantis GT was Britain’s first 500bhp road car, ensuring that Marcos continued to attracting celebrity owners including Maxi Jazz of Faithless
- Celebrity car collector Jay Leno recently drove the GT in his Jay Leno’s Garage series, calling it “one of the prettiest and most unusual sports cars of all time.”
- www.marcosmotorco.com