page_title: Marcos Engineering
section_title: Marcos 1800GT
hierarchical_section_title: Marcos Engineering / Cars / Marcos 1800GT
caption_attribution_description: English: 1970 or 1971 Marcos 3-litre (Volvo) at a Hungarian classic car show in 2008.
context_page_description: Marcos Engineering was a British sports car manufacturer. The name derives from the surnames of founders Jem Marsh and Frank Costin.
context_section_description: In 1964 the Marcos 1800 GT was introduced, using the four-cylinder Volvo 1800 cc unit with overdrive gearbox and De Dion rear axle. This was to be the design that would become familiar to sports car enthusiasts for more than 30 years, even though the original plywood chassis would later be replaced by a steel chassis. A variety of other engines, mostly from Ford, but also from Triumph and Volvo became available over the years. In 1966 the GT was changed to Ford engines of originally 1500 cc, later 1650 and 1600 cc, and a coil-sprung live rear axle. In 1968 the Ford Essex V6 engine from the Capri Mk1 was added. In 1969 the plywood chassis was replaced by steel, which shortened production time and saved on cost, and the Ford Essex V4 engine replaced the earlier inline-fours. In 1971 a few cars with the Triumph 2.5-litre straight-six were built, to use up engines from the slow selling Mantis. As the bonnet was a close fit over the engine, this variety of engines resulted in a corresponding variation in the bonnet design, particularly as regards changes designed to clear engine air intakes, often the only external sign of the type of engine fitted.
  The Ford V6 version achieved over 120 mph (190 km/h) on test and the Volvo-engined model was not far behind it, but the heavy cast-iron engines increased nose-heaviness in comparison to the four-cylinder variants. From 1970 cars for the North American markets received Volvo's inline-six cylinder, 3-liter engines coupled to Borg-Warner automatic transmissions. These have tubular steel space frames, a higher ride height and no headlight covers, to get US road certification. Delays and problems with the federalized cars, together with the development costs of the Mantis, led the company to close its doors for the first time.
  The Marcos intellectual rights, including jigs, build files and logos were bought by Marcos director Rory MacMath and are now working under the title Marcos Heritage Spares as a restoration and parts company for Marcos Cars (see contact details below for website).
caption: 1970–1971 Marcos 3-litre, Volvo-engined
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