Marcos Maniacs

Sorry, but although I know my '68 wooden chassis 1600GT doesn't 
qualify for the "official" poll, I would like to offer my thoughts on 
ownership of a Marcos,(Even though I've only had mine a few months 
and so far it haven't turned a wheel in anger!!)
I first saw a Marcos in one of the magazines I used to buy as a kid 
and fell in love with the shape and the image. I first had a ride in 
a kit built car around 1970. It happened to be a V4 engined car (My 
Dad had a Ford Corsair with the same engine) and it was bright orange 
but none of that detracted from this beautiful vision of a car. I was 
amazed that it had no seats to speak of and that all adjustments were 
done by miving the pedals. The love affair had begun.
I've had numerous differnet cars over the years; as a student I 
purchased and rebuilt a Triumph Spitfire and in later life a Morgan 
4/4, followed by Mazda RX7 and NIssan 280ZX (Okay, so I lost my taste 
at one time!!) but last year at the age of 50, I found my present 
Marcos. It was the wrong colour (Azure Metallic Green) and wrong 
engine size (1600 and I wanted at least a 3 litre) but my wife and I 
fell in love with the car and decided that we should buy it and 
restore it to use as our fun car, our bit of escapism during the 
spring and summer months.
When I got it home I knew that the Wooden chassis needed extensive 
repairs, but hey, I look on this as therapy in the evenings when I've 
had a S**T day at work....seem to have spent quite a few nights in 
the garage recently!
So far I have replaced all the timber in the boot, the parcel shelf 
and rear wings; I have the floors out and that is my next task, the 
sills being sound. My wife is already sizing up the upholstery and 
carpets and I have bought a number of items from Rory and from Auto 
Jumbles. We have been to numerous classic sporting events, hillclimbs 
etc this summer in my day-to-day Nissan 200SX and noted that there 
are few and far between Marci in the paddocks let alone competing. I 
can't wait to finish the car by next spring and to use it throughout 
the summer months. I appreciate it isn't the most convenient or 
comfortable car I'll ever have. It will make my wife nervous on the 
motorway because of it's size and proximity to truck wheeels etc; I 
am dreading having to drive home from somewhere in the wet AND dark. 
BUT I do know that when I am in it I will feel like an individual, it 
will make me feel special and every journey in it will be an event 
not just a chore.
I've tracked down the whole history of my car (34years), I've been 
given original photographs by the widow of the guy who first 
commisioned the car; the last owners have sent me every bill, note, 
Mot test certificate, photograph and the only one who hasn't is the 
Duke of Hamilton in whose private collection the car was placed for 
some years. I have met and spoken to some wonderful people involved 
with Marci and been able to chat to people interested in classic cars 
generally.
Will I ever sell my Marcos...I don't think so especially since both 
my daughters (26 and 21) have said they what me to bequeath it to 
them; will I get another fun car, probably a Mantara or Manta Ray 
Spyder but that will be AS WELL AS my 1600. I have a little piece of 
motoring history in my garage that's all mine, it's cheap to run, 
spares aren't that bad to buy, it's already been a lot of fun even on 
the axle stands and I've got Spring 2003 to look forward to and beyond
Don't even query whether you should have a Marcos. Just do it! Get 
the best you can and then make it even better. Get a tin box modern 
anonymous thing for the winter.
Sorry I've rambled, but I had to get it off my chest. Keep us 
informed as to what you do

Paul Verdeyen #4239