Marcos GT

[5pen]

Neighbours of ours rent a couple of acres of farm land and my Mrs has always been interested to see it, so last night off we go for the tour, but I was soon distarcted by this Marcos that looks as if it hasn't moved for some years...





It was on an 'H' plate, so a 69-70, and I believe that makes it a GT. Any Marcos experts in the house?

[Steffan]

Worth a good deal to a Marcos collector. Probably totally scrap except that the body will probably be OK. These were based in a Frank Costin Plywood "Chassis" which will be toast I would think.

There will be collectors interested but this will be a huge rebuild, indeed in reality a remanufacture I suspect. There are various Marcos clubs about. If you want to get the car rebuilt it needs rescuing, log book applying for, which should be a formality, and advertising as a restoration project. It WILL sell.

Good Luck

[5pen]

Cheers. It saddens me to see rare stuff like this rotting away. Even if it cannot be rescued it would be nice if a least part of it could be useful to an enthusiast.

[Steffan]

5pen said:

Cheers. It saddens me to see rare stuff like this rotting away. Even if it cannot be rescued it would be nice if a least part of it could be useful to an enthusiast.

I still own two Mini Marcos's. I used to drive Marcos cars forty years ago but spinal problems mean I could get in but not out nowadays.

That car could be rebuilt but will need a really knowledgeable enthusiast with time and money. Certainly thousands spending the chassis (plywood) and mechanics will be shot very probably. The glassfibre bodies are pretty bombproof except to heat. Interiors were largely Ford or BMC origins.

Well worth the effort: these are genuine classics and breathtakingly good looking cars. Good Luck

[marcosgt]

Steffan said:

Worth a good deal to a Marcos collector. Probably totally scrap except that the body will probably be OK. These were based in a Frank Costin Plywood "Chassis" which will be toast I would think.

There will be collectors interested but this will be a huge rebuild, indeed in reality a remanufacture I suspect. There are various Marcos clubs about. If you want to get the car rebuilt it needs rescuing, log book applying for, which should be a formality, and advertising as a restoration project. It WILL sell.

Good Luck

H reg will make it a steel chassis car and the bonnet suggests a Volvo 3 litre (possibly a Triumph 2.5 litre).

Lots of parts about, and the body looks OK from what I can see.

They're not valuable though.

M

[Ozzie Osmond]

Steffan said:

I still own two Mini Marcos's.

Those must be very rare. It's highly unusual to see any Marcos on the road these days and those are from, when? 1960s?

I agree with your comments on the "field find". My bet is you could go out and buy a nice sports car massively cheaper and easier than putting that one back into shape. It's usually a rotted interior which nails it.

[Steffan]

Ozzie Osmond said:

Steffan said:

I still own two Mini Marcos's.

Those must be very rare. It's highly unusual to see any Marcos on the road these days and those are from, when? 1960s?

I agree with your comments on the "field find". My bet is you could go out and buy a nice sports car massively cheaper and easier than putting that one back into shape. It's usually a rotted interior which nails it.

I collect Classic Cars and Kit cars particularly A series based cars. I have five classic Minis including a Mini Cooper convertible with a K series 185 BHP MG engine, Two Midas'c (which are of course the Mini Marcos updated) several A series Kit Cars including a Hustler and the Mini Marcos cars. Not on the road and bearing in mind I am already rebuilding five other Kit Cars I have not listed, not likely to be.

I am completely mad but happy. Cars and women are my hobbies. Been married 5 times. Cars are more reliable more affordable, easier to change and much less demanding. But women are ultimately a lot more fun. As you can tell I am not PC. PC missed me.

You are correct that there is very little money in rebuilding wrecks of cars. Unless they are really collectable when there is I would think.

But there are collectors about who want a project. That car is a known classic make, and will sell if it is advertised and has a V5 which is very probably a formality. The DVLA are very helpful in my experience with genuine classic cars reissues.

[wst]

My aunt is a dab hand at carpentry and loves Marcos cars. I'll ask if she wants a project... might annoy my uncle as his pristine 944 has pride of place in the garage but I'm sure they can move the Bongo and the daily driver about and make space for a Marcos...

[5pen]

The car to the left is a Triumph Spitfire. Not as rough as the Marcos but still neglected.

[Steffan]

Spitfires are much easier to value.

If its a Mark I its worth fair money and a Mark II slightly less a Mark III is probably still worth reviving a Mark IV less so. The 1500 worth not a lot.

[5pen]

I didn't pay too much attention to the Spitfire I'm afraid. As my Mrs would say, it was a red one.

I shall ask my neighbour if they don't mind asking the land owner what the story is with the Marcos. Anything is better than leaving it where it is.

[Jasandjules]

See if they will let you clear the shrubs away to see what condition it is in with a view to making an offer to purchase...

[Noccer]

Interesting to find out more - Marcos switched to steel chassis about 68/69 and that is much easier to repair IMHO than the wooden type (it was cheaper to make too, which is why they switched). Just about every part is available for a resto, and while you aren't going to make a fortune these are appreciating. They were always rare, and for a tax free classic they really shift. I would say it deserves finding out a bit more.

[highflyer]

Hi Stuart any chance of droppin me a mail ref the Marcos regards Russ

[Pistom]

It's the wooden chassis ones that have shot ahead in value. A steel chassis car is also worth saving and parts are not too expensive. The Essex V6 one sounds fantastic but the Volvo 1800 drives best however is also the most expensive.

I've always loved the look of these cars.

[Noccer]

Those wooden chassis cars are amazing. The Marcos racers in the HSCC are raced year in and year out, and the pounding that the wooden chassis takes while racing, in a car now 45 to 50 years old, speaks volumes for what an excellent design it was - the cars are very competitive too. I think the eligibility for classic racing is part of what keeps the price up for the earlier 1800 Volvo cars.

However, when it comes to something left to rot in a nettle patch, a steel chassis will suffer badly but may be easier to fix - I think Marcos Heritage Services will still strip, jig, repair and galvanise if required. At this age the car could have a range of engines, from V4 Ford, 3 litre Volvo, or even 6-pot Triumph, but the V6 Ford was more common. The car has no bonded on structures, it comes apart (nearly) as easily as it goes together.

[5pen]

Highflyer - message sent

No word from the land owner yet btw.

[Discojohn]

5pen said:

Highflyer - message sent

No word from the land owner yet btw.

Sorry to disappoint you but I have done a deal with the landowner so neither the Marcos or Spitfire are for sale. Neither are in good shape but hopefully will be one day. Cars covered to prevent further damage etc. J

[hidetheelephants]

Is there going to be a resto thread soon? How about some more piccys?

[Discojohn]

hidetheelephants said:

Is there going to be a resto thread soon? How about some more piccys?

Not yet as I'm not sure what to do with them. I'm not interested in the Spit. as I've a 62' model (reg1/1/63) MGB & a 78' B both to do a bit on first. I will sell on the Triumph once I get the V5 but may sell on the 78' B & concentrate on the Marcos. I have the details as only the 4th one built (steel chassis). It was a stage 3 build so Marcos did everything except the Triumph 2.5 running gear etc. She hasn't got an engine, gearbox, front/rear screens, seats, webasto roof, dash etc. I think the chassis is fairly good subject to closer inspection when stripped. I do have a couple of 6 Triumph 2000 engines & a gearbox but 2500,s are not easily found. I've got a Ford 2.8i V6 Cologne engine, box, & all ancillaries from a Cobra which I bought to fit in her. It should be lighter & quicker than the TR engines. I'm torn between the open topped MG & the difficult to squeeze into Marcos GT. I'm still undecided upon my course of action. I recently listed a wheel nut on eBay & was inundated with people wanting to buy the old girl complete. I think noccer might have been one suggestion it's daft to break her. In truth I had no intention of destroying such an important car in terms of our English heritage.