Monday 5th October 2009

Marlin Plans New GT

Racing improves the breed for West-Country minnow

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Marlin's 5EXi 'out in front' at Castle Combe

Devon-based racing and kitcar maker Marlin is planning to introduce a new 'ultra-modern GT' next year, with a roof and a raft of aerodynamic upgrades that will be honed on the race track.

The new car is a development of the 5EXi, a 600kg lightweight racing and/or road car that Marlin has been campaigning in the Castle Combe GT Championship for the last three years.

With a range of Honda, Rover and VW engines on offer and up to 450/bhp per ton for hairiest versions - translating to 0-60mph in fewer than 3 seconds - the 5EXi has already been reviewed warmly by various motoring publications.

...and the roadgoing version

The new - currently nameless - model will apparently debut next year on the race track before road-going versions are released.

"Without giving too much away at this stage, we can say that the new car is an ultra modern GT with a greatly improved aero dynamic package. It is anticipated that the slick and comfort providing hard top will also be capable of removal for those occasions where an open sportscar is preferred," Marlin told PH.

"The full racing version will be produced initially, then arduously track and race tested before the road model will be finalised."

 

[R34]

Is PH planning to road test the new 3EXI-R?

Good to see the little company still going and making plans for the future.

[dwilkie]

They were based just down the road from where I used to live in Crediton, I always had a softspot for the retro old school style car they often had out the front (can't remember what it was called). Good to see they're still hanging in there!

[fuoriserie]

This is good news, looking forward to seeing a new mid-engine design.......

[jpf]

It looks like a Strathcorn (wasn't that the spelling?).

[marcosgt]

Stratcarron? I knew it reminded me of something.

Is this the Marlin that used to make Morgan-alikes?

M.

Edited by marcosgt on Monday 5th October 14:59

[VladD]

marcosgt said:

Stratcarron? I knew it reminded me of something.

Is this the Marlin that used to make Morgan-alikes?

M.

Edited by marcosgt on Monday 5th October 14:59

Yes, they used to make the Roadster and the Berlinetta.

[LuS1fer]

Is this another "non-story" where you use pics of their old cars to publicise the fact they're thinking of making something totally different?

[speedychrissie]

I saw one of these on a trailer on the M5 yesterday and thought it looked quite good. Great to hear of a small company doing well.

[Xerces]

Always liked th 5EXi, but i found it was really expensive for a kit car.

[Agent Orange]

Did they really call it the 5EXI? Must have been a slow day in the marketing department when they came up with that!

Looks a fun car

[Arnold Layne]

Have to agree about the non-story. The former Strathcarron SC-5A has been built in the West Country for years and the fact that they’re ‘thinking’ of building a coupe isn’t exactly news.

If memory serves the SC-5A featured a tubular spaceframe with Triumph triple power and sequential gearbox. I think this redux version has been re-engineered to run Honda power and a sheet-metal bath-tub chassis.

Can’t really see how a coupe would work or sell...

[Arthur Jackson]

Strath had an aluminium honeycomb chassis by Reynard. 5Exi is just a sad ripoff.

[dandarez]

It didn't matter what chassis it had or whether Reynard helped, they were about to go bust, shortly before Strathcarron went bust too!

The Strathcarron was another in the long line of hyped specialist cars. This one got all the hype at it's launch in 1999 (get an ex techie from Lotus and you have instant press!) even with it being priced at nearly 23 grand (then!).

[Lost_BMW]

Arthur Jackson said:

Strath had an aluminium honeycomb chassis by Reynard. 5Exi is just a sad ripoff.

It may not have the same tub or pedigree as the original car that inspired the Marlin but, non-Reynard as it may be, have you read any of the reviews from people who have driven or raced it or seen the results & lap times it's capable of? (See Castle Coombe GTs etc.)

Given that, it's a bit much to describe it as sad. For people who want a very light, very agile and very fast car and don't care about the snob value, it has a lot to offer.

If they do make a new one and it is better then it should be well beyond 'sad'.

[Arthur Jackson]

Lost_BMW said:

Arthur Jackson said:

Strath had an aluminium honeycomb chassis by Reynard. 5Exi is just a sad ripoff.

It may not have the same tub or pedigree as the original car that inspired the Marlin but, non-Reynard as it may be, have you read any of the reviews from people who have driven or raced it or seen the results & lap times it's capable of? (See Castle Coombe GTs etc.)

Given that, it's a bit much to describe it as sad. For people who want a very light, very agile and very fast car and don't care about the snob value, it has a lot to offer.

If they do make a new one and it is better then it should be well beyond 'sad'.

That would depend entirely, in my eyes anyway, whether it used someone elses design and under what circumstances it uses it......

[GTRene]

I welcome a new model with hardtop and ofcorse lightweight...

[Chris71]

Arthur Jackson said:

Lost_BMW said:

Arthur Jackson said:

Strath had an aluminium honeycomb chassis by Reynard. 5Exi is just a sad ripoff.

It may not have the same tub or pedigree as the original car that inspired the Marlin but, non-Reynard as it may be, have you read any of the reviews from people who have driven or raced it or seen the results & lap times it's capable of? (See Castle Coombe GTs etc.)

Given that, it's a bit much to describe it as sad. For people who want a very light, very agile and very fast car and don't care about the snob value, it has a lot to offer.

If they do make a new one and it is better then it should be well beyond 'sad'.

That would depend entirely, in my eyes anyway, whether it used someone elses design and under what circumstances it uses it......

The Strathcarron was renowned for being an overweight dissapointment, so I don't think the fact they elected to use their own construction rather than copy it was a bad move at all.

Have to say I've only ever heard good things about the 5exi and, as mentioned, it's had no shortage of competition success.

[davedlr]

I was on an airfield day at Colerne with a 5exi yesterday. I hadn't heard about them or seen one before, but I recognised the Strathcarron shape. It looked kind of kitcar with the Testarossa strakes down the doors.

Seemed to go and handle well from what I saw

[Arthur Jackson]

Chris71 said:

The Strathcarron was renowned for being an overweight dissapointment, so I don't think the fact they elected to use their own construction rather than copy it was a bad move at all.

Have to say I've only ever heard good things about the 5exi and, as mentioned, it's had no shortage of competition success.

Fine, I've never heard Strath owners refer to it as disappointing, but each to their own. But, more importantly, how did the Marlin come to be the same shape as a Strathcarron....?

[Agent Orange]

Arthur Jackson said:

Chris71 said:

The Strathcarron was renowned for being an overweight dissapointment, so I don't think the fact they elected to use their own construction rather than copy it was a bad move at all.

Have to say I've only ever heard good things about the 5exi and, as mentioned, it's had no shortage of competition success.

Fine, I've never heard Strath owners refer to it as disappointing, but each to their own. But, more importantly, how did the Marlin come to be the same shape as a Strathcarron....?

It would be a lot easier if you just told everyone how it came to be the same shape.

Edited by Agent Orange on Tuesday 6th October 17:27