RE: PH Carpool: Marcos Mantaray 4.6

[Zeke Kaval]

[Dodgey_Rog]

Definitely a pretty car. I recall seeing the development Mantaray at the factory, before they put the Peugeot lights and what later became the Marcosite. I recall speaking with Tom Hulme at the 98 Motorshow and discussing the filled in sills ala Mantis and making the st lines smoother. Just a shame it was a little too late, the price was on a par with TVR, just didn't have the brand following. Always turned heads wherever it went.

[trunks82]

dvance said:

The looks don't really do it for me ... I am sure it's great to drive though

Same here.While not my cup of tea,its always great to see people running old british classics.makes me feel warm and fuzzy!

[JONSCZ]

OK, a pic of my Mantis I had a few years ago......
(If I'm totally honest, then I'd say that it was the best car I've ever owned...!).
Cheers,
Jon



edited to add - Hi Jeremy. Does the pic look familiar......?
Anyone thinking of Marcos cars - then do get in touch with Jeremy (http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/profile.asp?h=0&memberId=251034&t=998664&f=23&mid=36375). He comes highly recommended.
Jon

Edited by JONSCZ on Thursday 5th May 20:49

[Ipelm]

Looks try a bit too hard for my liking......and have read some bad stuff about scuttle shake, which also blighted the Ginetta G33, not really acceptable in a sportscar.............On the otherhand I love the passion that these off the wall extrovert Brit specials bring out in their owners, so who cares really!

[Ipelm]

harryowl said:

Gizmo! said:

This and the Ginetta G33 V8... trying to get a slice of the market TVR owned, and didn't quite make it.

errr.... TVR went bust before Marcos did!

Perhaps TVR had TOO MUCH ambition and Marcos TOO LITTLE?

[autofocus]

Hi there,

Wow, Manataray 4.6 V8 !!!

Great car, and I have had the pleasure of driving that exact car when I worked as Dealer Principal for a Marcos dealer about 10/11 years ago.

Love the Mantaray, its a much underated car and while the lure of the V8 was immense the 2.0 Turbo (Rover engine) was a real peach.

I have some pics of some of the cars that passed through my hands while running the dealership, but will have to scan them as they are on film rather than digital.

In the meantime here are some others I have photographed recently











Regards

Tim

[Zeke Kaval]

The Marcos/Morgan clubs are due to meet at the Ace Cafe on Sat 21st May 2011 from 6pm with live rock bands including one of the top Neil Young tribute acts in the UK from 7pm till 11pm. Entrance is free although the car park is for Marcos or Morgan cars.

Link to the club thread is here

http://marcossportscarenthusiasts.yuku.com/topic/5...

Edited by Zeke Kaval on Friday 6th May 00:20

[Cool Mart]

This is the 3rd Ace Cafe meeting and there's always a good turnout !

See you on the 21st

[Dodgey_Rog]

autofocus said:

Hi there,

Wow, Manataray 4.6 V8 !!!

Great car, and I have had the pleasure of driving that exact car when I worked as Dealer Principal for a Marcos dealer about 10/11 years ago.

Love the Mantaray, its a much underated car and while the lure of the V8 was immense the 2.0 Turbo (Rover engine) was a real peach.

I have some pics of some of the cars that passed through my hands while running the dealership, but will have to scan them as they are on film rather than digital.

In the meantime here are some others I have photographed recently











Regards

Tim

You worked at DC Cook?

[autofocus]

Dodgey_Rog said:

You worked at DC Cook?

Hi there,

No, not DC Cook.
Shortly after my garage took the Marcos franchise DC Cook went bump in the UK and we were offered all of the Marcos cars they had in stock quite cheaply but didn't buy any. We actually took over there build slot at the factory for our demonstrator.

Regards

Tim

[Dodgey_Rog]

autofocus said:

Dodgey_Rog said:

You worked at DC Cook?

Hi there,

No, not DC Cook.
Shortly after my garage took the Marcos franchise DC Cook went bump in the UK and we were offered all of the Marcos cars they had in stock quite cheaply but didn't buy any. We actually took over there build slot at the factory for our demonstrator.

Regards

Tim

Oh i see, DC Cook were a pain in the arse actually. We tried to buy their Mantis demo but wanted silly money for it, so we left it. Which dealer were you? Did you ever deal with Dave Read at Optima in Birmingham?

Whatever happened to Don Powell? Used to get on well with Tom Hulme, funnily enough, i bumped into him randomly in a bar in New York some years back.

[Cool Mart]

Five years on and she's up for sale ... http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...

<sniff>

[Mr Tidy]

Cool Mart said:

Five years on and she's up for sale ... http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...

<sniff>

Shame, but if it is hardly getting used that is a shame as well. Sadly in life other stuff happens!

Off to check for some cash down the side of the sofa (actually EuroMillions ticket is more likely)!

I like the idea of something V8 but different - hope it goes to another PHer then we can get updates!

[Cool Mart]

The more sun we get the more likely it is that I'll keep her, she's running so well now with the new Lambda sensors and sparkplugs.

At the end of each of the last 3 years I've thought really should sell her, but by the time April comes around and the weather changes, I think 'just one more year'

Mart

[FairfieldSteve]

Cool Mart said:

The more sun we get the more likely it is that I'll keep her, she's running so well now with the new Lambda sensors and sparkplugs.

At the end of each of the last 3 years I've thought really should sell her, but by the time April comes around and the weather changes, I think 'just one more year'

Mart

It's been a rough week weather wise. I suspect you'll take the advert down when it warms up from today onwards
Always loved a Marcos, probably the only thing I'd swap my TVR for. Your one is stunning!