Mantula and Martina built to be the second wind for Marcos to come back in 1980s

Rare ONES In the end everything will disappear for good, although many of them try to deny it by creeping to the surface to show their existence again and again. That's all natural, even so no one can resist it, all that can be done is survive as much as possible before it's really lost in time.

The Marcos Mantula shows the distinctive styling that’s been a hallmark of Marcos since the 1960s. (Picture from: Silodrome)

Of the many British car manufacturers that have appeared and success in the world's automotive during the 1960s, of course you still remember Marcos Engineering Ltd. As quoted from Wikipedia, the name of Marcos was created in 1959 by combining the last names of its founders, Jem MARsh and Frank COStin.

The Marcos Mantula's body is lightweight fiberglass based on a steel chassis, with a total curb weight of just 900 kgs (1,984 lbs). (Picture from: Silodrome)

As we all know, Frank Costin is a well-known British automotive designer, who was also known as the designer of the legendary Mosquito fighter plane made by the De Havilland aircraft company. And after shifting in the automotive world he applied his know-how of wood monocoques led to the first plywood-based Marcos sportscars.

The Marcos Mantula's interior featured with seating for two, there’s a high center console and this car has a blue leather interior with wood veneer, and a blue leather trimmed steering wheel. (Picture from: Silodrome)

This British company started its venture in the world's automotive by launching the Marcos Xylon GT, followed later by the iconic Marcos 1800 GT and then the Mini Marcos, the Marcos Mantis XP. It turned out that the production activities of the British manufacturer did not last long, and should be ceased when the company experienced serious financial problems in 1971.

The Marcos Mantula is powered by a 3.5-litre Rover V8 with a 5-speed gearbox. (Picture from: Silodrome)

Although many efforts have been made to revitalize, one of them through the acquisition of its shares and assets by the Rob Walker Group of Companies, continued to reorganize and change its name to Marcos Ltd.

The Marcos Mantula are now collectible in the more eccentric British classic car circles, the performance of the model makes it a genuine weapon in the right hands. (Picture from: Silodrome)

Unfortunately, all these effort was not very helpful. It seems, during this period there were no new models, and until 1972 it was also reported that Marcos had a stock of 35 unsold cars in the United States had to be "liquidated".

The Marcos Mantula Spyder which sell after the coupés in later production began in 1986. (Picture from: Handh.co.uk)

Well, what happened at that time was Marcos had to do the best to downsizing the company in order to overcome its financial problems with what was described as "a cash jumble sale of Marcos bits, ranging from prototype and shop soiled components, benches, tools, etc," where took place at the "old Marcos Cars factory" at Westbury.

The Marcos Mantula Spyder version was introduced which went on to become the most popular variant. (Picture from: Handh.co.uk)

At that time in 1976, one of the company' founders, Jem Marsh, who was still active in the automotive world, then bought back the rights to the Marcos name, and in 1981 this brand offering the previous GT cars as kits with multiple engine options.The Marcos Mantula Spyder Up to 1989 about 130 kits were sold.

The Marcos Mantula Spyder's interior featured with seating for two, there’s a high center console. (Picture from: Handh.co.uk)

As quoted from Wikipedia, the British automaker was introduced the Marcos Mantula in 1983, externally very similar to the old GT, but now powered by a 3.5-litre Rover V8 with a 5-speed gearbox.

The Marcos Mantula Spyder version is powered by the same drivetrain as the coupe variant. (Picture from: Handh.co.uk)

This alloy engine weighed less than the previous six-cylinder cast-iron units, reducing overall weight to about 900 kg and making the car competitive against other Rover-powered sports cars such as TVR and Morgan. The engine evolved into the Rover Vitesse EFi engine, and later Mantulas were fitted with the 3.9 EFi units.

The Marcos Martina was externally very similar to the Mantula, but with flared front wheel arches. (Picture from: Handh.co.uk)

In 1986 the model was made available as a convertible, the Marcos Spyder, which would outsell the coupés in later production. In 1989, the automaker introduced the model featured with an independent rear suspension, together with the Ford Sierra's 7" differential and rear disc brakes.

The Marcos Martina used the Ford Cortina's 2-litre four-cylinder engine, steering and suspension, and approximately 80 were produced. (Picture from: Jigidi)

The independent suspension allowed a full-width boot and the relocation of the battery and heater/air conditioning. There's a total of 170 Coupés and 119 Spyders were ever produced by the automaker during its production periods.

Furthermore Marcos in 1991 also had time to produce the Marcos Martina was externally very similar to the Mantula, but with flared front wheel arches. It used the Ford Cortina's 2-litre four-cylinder engine, steering and suspension. And approximately 80 were produced. Originally, Martina available as kits or factory-built, before the cars were all factory-built from 1992.

 

Shortly after the production of the Mantula and Martina ceased in 1993, soon Marcos retired from the kit car business to concentrate on all-factory built offerings until the British automaker shutted down for good in 2007.😢 *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MARCOS | SPEEDHUNTERS | SILODROME | HANDH.CO.UK | WIKIPEDIA ]

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