1965 Marcos 1800GT
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION
Having been superbly restored from 2016-19 and prepared for competition use, this striking Marcos 1800 GT is offered for sale as a highly accessible and eligible choice of historic racing car.
The extensive history file states that chassis number 4055 was ordered new in November 1965 by a Mr Green, who lived near Manchester. The order was placed via John Sprinzel Racing Ltd and period correspondence from the Marcos factory shows that the 1800 GT was delivered in kit form to Mr Green, who duly completed the build process and registered his new car in early January 1966.
In 1980, it was acquired by Anthony Harding, who stored it for a few years before having it restored to original spec in 1989. The Marcos was then used in the Historic Sports Car Club’s Road Sports class during the 1990s, but by the time it was bought by the current owner in 2015, it had been off the road again for a few years.
A marque enthusiast who had previously competed in a Marcos Mantis, he entrusted it to well-known specialist Redline Sportscars so that it could once again be restored and competition-prepared.
As an early 1800 GT, ‘4055’ was originally supplied with a de Dion rear axle, but that set-up no longer complies with FIA GTP1 regulations. It was therefore removed and kept with the car, and a Ford rear axle – as fitted in period to later 1800 GTs – has been installed in its place. The braking system is via front discs and rear drums, while 6in wheels have been fitted all round.
The all-iron, 1780cc Volvo B18 engine was rebuilt by Mass Racing, and dyno-tested at nearly 180bhp on Weber carburettors. It was also set up to run on the twin Strombergs required by the FIA regs, and produces 150bhp in that form. A Salisbury Powr-Lok limited-slip diff was fitted, the gearbox was replaced with a refurbished unit from Amazon Cars and the overdrive unit was removed. It’s now geared for just under 140mph in top.
The Aston Martin shade of green was chosen in tribute to the works-entered 1800 GT that ran in the 1968 Le Mans 24 Hours, and since being completed the Marcos has been used in events such as the GRRC Spring Start sprint meeting, and at the Gurston Down hillclimb.
Having run in roadgoing classes, it’s always been taxed and MoT’d since its latest rebuild – a photographic record of which accompanies the car – and comes with current HTP papers. Fastidiously maintained by Redline Sportscars in recent years, this Marcos 1800 GT is a quick, competitive and well-prepared car.
MODEL HISTORY
Formed in 1959 by Jem Marsh and Frank Costin, Marcos made its name building distinctive sports cars in low numbers for enthusiast owners. In 1963, it moved to Bradford on Avon in Wiltshire, and from there it sold cars either fully completed or, most often, in kit form.
The Marcos 1800 was introduced in 1964 and was designed by brothers Dennis and Peter Adams. Featuring a strong, light plywood monocoque and glassfibre bodywork, it was launched with Volvo’s four-cylinder, 1778cc B18 engine and a de Dion rear end, which was later replaced by a Ford axle. The engine produced 114bhp, which was plenty considering that the whole car weighed only 769kg with a half-tank of fuel on board.
Initially offered at just under £2000 including purchase tax, or £1645 in kit form, the Marcos was an expensive choice of sports car. There was no doubting that it was exhilarating to drive, though, and the Autocar road test conceded that it was ‘designed more as a track machine than a road car’. The magazine recorded a 0-60mph time of 9.1 seconds and concluded that, ‘In its class, it is the best example of this type of car we have tried’.
The cheaper Ford-engined 1500 GT was introduced in 1966, and later that decade there was the option of a six-cylinder version. The wooden tub was eventually replaced by a steel chassis, and production stopped in 1971 when Marcos went out of business. Even though Jem Marsh managed to relaunch his marque in 1981, it disappeared for good in 2007.