TVR, Lotus, Westfield, Zenos… the history of small British sports car companies is often marked by financial struggles and closures. Despite these challenges, the appeal of a lightweight, two-seater British sports car remains strong, especially in an era of increasingly heavy electric vehicles.

A New Chapter for Marcos

Now, another name from the past is attempting a comeback: Marcos. Founded in 1959 by Jem Marsh and Frank Costin, the company initially produced lightweight, glassfibre coupes powered by engines from Ford or Volvo. The Marcos GT, launched in 1964, was remarkably low-slung, standing just 41 inches tall, and boasted a curvaceous body comparable to the Jaguar E-Type.

The Origins of Marcos

Frank Costin, an engineer formerly with de Havilland Aircraft Company, collaborated with Colin Chapman of Lotus after believing Formula 1 aerodynamics were underdeveloped. He later met Jem Marsh at a 750 Motor Club event. Marsh, running the Speedex car brand, was intrigued by Costin’s innovative ideas inspired by aircraft construction techniques.

Drawing inspiration from the de Havilland Mosquito fighter-bomber – built using plywood over moulds during World War II – Costin proposed building cars using a similar method. Together, Marsh and Costin founded Marcos, initially creating the Xylon, a distinctive plywood sports racer.

A History of Ups and Downs

While Costin left the company relatively quickly, Marcos continued to build cars using his plywood monocoque design until 1969, when they transitioned to steel. The 1970s saw the company produce standout models like the GT and the Mini Marcos, attracting celebrity owners such as Rod Stewart and John Noakes. However, financial difficulties persisted, leading to a turbulent history of liquidations and failed revivals.

The 2026 Revival

Fast forward to 2026, and Marcos is once again attempting a resurrection, with a new website and a commitment to producing ‘British, lightweight, analogue’ sports cars. The new venture is led by Howard Nash, who acquired Marcos Heritage – a parts business holding the company’s assets dating back to 1959 – in 2022.

Securing the Legacy

Howard Nash explained, “I bought Marcos Heritage, a parts business which owned the assets going right back to 1959… We’ve got nearly 4000 build records of every car… We’ve got all the original drawings, the moulds, the jigs, the tooling.” He emphasized the extensive legal work required to reclaim the original logo and rights across all categories, including car manufacturing, engineering, restoration, and parts sales.

New Models on the Horizon

Based in Stockbridge, near Winchester, the Marcos team currently employs around 46 people. Their initial project is the Mosquito, a glassfibre prototype inspired by the original Mini Marcos but built around a modern BMW Mini chassis. “It handles beautifully. It’s extremely light – lightness is absolutely part of the Marcos DNA – so it’s just under 700 kilos and running at around 300bhp,” Nash stated.

While initially conceived as a test bed, the Mosquito may enter limited production as a track car due to strong positive feedback. Marcos also plans to develop a mid-engined sports car with a lightweight chassis and around 250bhp, aiming for a road-legal version by the end of 2026. Furthermore, the iconic GT model is being considered for revival, though a modern plywood chassis is unlikely due to homologation challenges.

A Sustainable Future?

Nash believes a pragmatic business approach is key to avoiding past failures. “Marcos cars have to be affordable – there’s no point pretending it’s something it isn’t,” he said. He points to the success of companies like Ginetta and Ariel as examples of how to build a sustainable business around racing and lightweight sports cars. The goal, he emphasizes, is to create cars that are fun to drive – lightweight, powerful, and equipped with a manual gearbox.