Lot details
Registration No: 395 BBL
Chassis No: 2013
Mot Expiry: None

Cars like the classic Morgans are sometimes mistakenly thought to have wooden chassis, but a model that really did have such a frame was the original Marcos. The company was founded in Luton, Bedford in 1959 by Jem Marsh and Frank Costin, and it was Costin's earlier work on the wooden De Havilland Mosquito fighter-bombers that led to the newcomer's monocoque being constructed from marine plywood and spruce. The prototype of the first offering, the Xylon (the Greek word for wood), was constructed in Dolgellau, North Wales and was immediately recognisable for its high roofline (Marsh was a tall man!), gullwing doors, four-piece aircraft-like windscreen and 'frogeye-style' headlights. The slightly less radical, Luton-built production versions were powered by a range of Ford engines varying in capacity from 997cc to 1498cc, while the suspension and steering parts came courtesy of the Standard 10 and Triumph Herald. Nine Xylons saw the light of day, most of which were used in competition - light and nimble, they were very successful; especially in the hands of such hotshoes as Jackie Stewart and Jackie Oliver.

The Luton Gullwing model that followed in 1961 utilised the same running gear as the Xylon, but was a slipperier shape and employed more fibreglass in its construction. Just 13 of these were manufactured, of which the sale car is understood to be the last. A 'barn find', it will require a fair degree recommissioning but, with probable competition history behind it, could well be a passport to such premier motorsport events as the Goodwood Revival and Classic Le Mans. The Ford 109E engine is currently dismantled and incomplete and the Marcos is minus its electrical equipment, gearbox and interior trim, while the bodywork and Red and Yellow paintwork are described as "poor". '395 BBL' comes complete with green log book and a selection of old MOTs. A perfect project for the upcoming winter!