1988 MARCOS MANTULA SPYDER

• Lot Sold $36,000 (Hammer Price)
• $41,400 (Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium)

The Marcos marque was founded in 1959 by Jem Marsh and Frank Costin, who took the first three letters of their surnames to devise a name for the new company. The first cars drew on Costin's aviation background and were unique in their use of wood laminates for the monocoque chassis. Lightweight and good streamlining gave outstanding performance with the modest 1 litre and 1.5 litre Ford engines they used.

As with so many of the smaller British manufacturers of this period, Marcos earned its market pedigree on the racetrack. Notable early customers include Jackie Stewart, who gained his first racing experience in a Marcos, Derek Bell, Jackie Oliver and Jonathan Palmer.

After Frank Costin left the company in 1961, Dennis and Peter Adams took over and during 1963 produced simplified designs for the Marcos 1800. Though still a wooden chassis this new model sported an extraordinarily beautiful fibreglass shell. This "stopgap" turned out to be so good looking that it was an immediate success following its launch at the 1963 Motor Show and still remains the inspiration for the Marcos design.

The Marcos GT was a great success, however in 1969 the labour-intensive wooden chassis was changed to a steel version which cut some 15 hours off the manufacturing time of each car. Engines were generally Ford (4 cylinder 1.5 litre and 1650cc, V4 and 3litre V6) and Volvo (the original 1800cc and later the 3 litre straight six). Excellent press reviews favourably compared the Marcos with other specialist marques of the time, such as Lotus, Morgan, Gilburn and TVR. In 1984 the Mantula Coupe was announced fitted with a 3.5 litre Rover V8, and then in 1986 by the Mantula Spyder. Both versions of the car being updated from time to time; the last of these cars using the 200 bhp 3.9 Rover V8 engine.

In the 51st year since the founding of Marcos we are pleased to offer a superb example of an 1988 Mantula Spyder. This UK concours winning car has covered just 33,000 miles. A new clutch and upgraded suspension was fitted just 2000 miles ago. A light and fast car, with its balanced Rover 3.5 litre V8, it has a five speed manual gearbox, lightened flywheel, fast road` cam, Weber 500 on an Offenhauser 360 inlet, 9.75:1 compression, with ported, polished stainless steel manifolds and exhausts. It has lead-free heads and 3 angle valve seats.
The grey interior is in full leather and the package is made complete by full documentation and history file. A rare car from one of Britain's most idiosyncratic, enduring and legendary car makers. One of only 120 Spyders built, it is reported to be the only example in Australia.

CHASSIS NO: 8279S

ENGINE NO: 8279S

REGISTRATION NO: RAT 007 (SA EXPIRES 18/6/2010)