Marcos

Founded in 1959 by Jem Marsh and aerodynamicist Frank Costin, the company name 'Marcos' was derived from the first three letters of their surnames. Costin, who had worked on the de Havilland Mosquito fighter-bomber, applied aircraft-grade plywood construction to the first Marcos cars, the Xylon and Gullwing. These 'wooden wonders' were exceptionally stiff and lightweight, proving highly competitive in motorsport. In 1964, the company introduced its most famous silhouette, the 1800 GT, designed by brothers Dennis and Peter Adams, which became the design blueprint for the brand for the next four decades. Financial difficulties led to the company's first liquidation in 1971, after which it was purchased by the Rob Walker Group. Jem Marsh successfully bought the rights back in 1976 and relaunched the brand in 1981, initially focusing on component (kit) cars before returning to full production. During the 1980s and 1990s, Marcos produced several V8-powered models like the Mantula and Mantara, and even achieved success at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the LM600 race car. However, the company went into administration again in 2000. In 2002, Canadian entrepreneur Tony Stelliga financed a new era as Marcos Engineering Ltd, moving production to Kenilworth and partnering with Prodrive for chassis engineering. This period produced the TSO series, featuring high-performance Chevrolet V8 engines. Despite critical acclaim and a notable appearance on 'Top Gear', the company entered voluntary liquidation in October 2007. The assets and heritage rights were then managed by Marcos Heritage Spares, supporting the existing fleet of vehicles. In 2022, the brand saw a new resurgence when it was acquired by Howard Nash under the 'Automotive Vision' umbrella. Forming Marcos Motor Company, the new owners revealed plans in 2025 for a 2026 relaunch with three distinct projects: a 'recognisable silhouette' continuation model, an all-new mid-engined lightweight sports car, and a series of officially licensed heritage continuations. This latest chapter aims to honor the original ethos of simplicity and 'seat-of-the-pants' handling.