Marcos Maniacs

This Marcos is definately not a 67 car. It is a Mantula body from 84 
onwards. Rear lights, bonnet, mirrors, front-spoiler, rear windscreen 
(no rond edges, in this time the rear windscreens were glued to the 
chassis), the doors, and the revolution rims (Modern line from 
Schmidt factory and not the original Revolution "Classic"). These 
rims were sold end of the 80´s. 

The engine and gearbox indicates that this car is a Kit. I don´t know 
any other Marcos with a Fiat Mirafiori engine & and Fiat gearbox. 
This certainly was never fitted in Marcos by the factory. 

I know a Marcos GT with Lotus engine, 2 with Alfa Romeo  engine & 
gearbox (GT & a Martina), some with BMW engine & gearbox (GT with 
2002 tii, Mantula with M5 engine & gearbox, Mantis with V8 and 
someone told me that in UK is under construction a Mantula with a V12 
unit), beside all the Volvo, Ford & Rover engines. 

I believe this Mantula Kit got a "old" chassis number to pass the 
import regulations. 

CF Mantula




--- In MarcosManiacs@yahoogroups.com, "Don Lattimer" 
<donlattimer@p...> wrote:
> Yep, steel chassis started in 1969.  All Martinas were kit cars.  
They were supposedly for the "poorer" folk who desired a Marcos.
> 
> <<Launched in 1984, the Mantula was very similar to the GT of 1969, 
but subtle bodywork modifications hid the most significant change; 
the addition of the powerful, light and highly tunable Rover (nee 
Buick) V8. 
> 
> With this engine, even in standard form, the Mantula could 
accelerate from 0-60 mph in under 6 seconds and the improved 
aerodynamics allowed speeds of around 140 mph to be reached. The 
Rover engine also came with a slick 5 speed gearbox to complete the 
picture. 
> 
> The Mantula is arguably the most desirable Marcos for day to day 
use, especially a version with the Granada based independent rear 
suspension. The bodywork is little changed from the original Adams 
design of 1963 and the Rover engine is a delightful unit. 
> 
> The Martina looks, to all the world, just like a Mantula with 
slightly flared front wheel arches, but lifting the bonnet reveals 
the 'raison d'etre' of this car. The Martina was intended to bring 
Marcos ownership to those who could never afford it (The Marcos has 
never been a cheap car - in the 60's they were dearer than E-Types) 
and allowed the classic shape to be built around Ford Cortina 
mechanics (the flared arches accomodating the wider steering rack of 
the Cortina). Many Marcos owners viewed these cars with disdain, but 
having driven a beautifully built version with a tuned 2 litre Ford 
OHC engine, I'd say that there's little to choose between one and, 
say a V6 GT (except for the sound, the V6 is lovely) and, with humble 
Ford mechanics, insuring and running one can be a lot more affordable 
than a Mantula. The Martina was available as an alternative to the 
Mantula, which continued to be built. 
> 
> However, despite selling well, the Martina's lifespan was short, as 
in 1993 the factory made the momentous decision to abandon 'component 
cars' (Jem claims kit cars are Duttons built on clapped out Escorts) 
and move into direct competition with the likes of TVR and Porsche by 
building and selling only fully built, type-approved cars. 
> 
> The result is the Mantara. Once again the Rover V8 engine was used, 
this time in 3.9 form (although the current range includes a 5 litre 
Rover V8!), but strut suspension forced Dennis Adams to add Audi 
Quattro-like blisters to the front wings, which, in my opinion, sadly 
don't blend in well with the original shape. 
> 
> However, the Marcos continues to impress reviewers, especially with 
its handling and refinement (one daring to say that he felt the 
Mantara handles better than TVRs latest offerings), and its a source 
of amusement amongst Marcos owners that journalists still marvel at 
the adjustable pedals! 
> 
> With substantial financial backing and a successful race program, 
Marcos cars continue to sell well. 
> 
> From 1986, the Mantula was available in Spyder form and this was 
carried on through the Martina and Mantara models and into the LMs.>>
> 
> Excerpt from Mark Saxby's site.
> 
> Don
> 
> #3M5759 
> 
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: Robert Carroll 
>   To: MarcosManiacs@yahoogroups.com 
>   Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2005 10:04 AM
>   Subject: RE: [MarcosManiacs] Another Marcos on EBay
> 
> 
>   I got an email response from him and he claims that it is a '67, 
but that he's done some fiberglass work to modernize it.  He says it 
has a steel tube chassis also.  Didn't these first become available 
in mid 1969?
> 
>    
> 
>   -Bob
> 
>    #5366
> 
>    
> 
>   -----Original Message-----
>   From: MarcosManiacs@yahoogroups.com 
[mailto:MarcosManiacs@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Hampton Peterson
>   Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 4:29 PM
>   To: MarcosManiacs@yahoogroups.com
>   Subject: [MarcosManiacs] Another Marcos on EBay
> 
>    
> 
>   Here's another Marcos on Ebay.  It says 1967, but I don't think 
so.....
>   http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Other-Makes-Marcos-GT-1967-Marcos-
GT-
>   VERY-RARE-Possibly-the-only-one-in-
>   US_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6472QQitemZ4567999124QQrdZ1
> 
>   Regards,
>   Hampton
>   #5463
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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