The Birth of the “Ugly Duckling”
If you’re unfamiliar with Marcos, you’re not alone, but British car fans of a certain age will remember it well. Founded in 1959 by Jem Marsh and Frank Costin (hence the name Mar-Cos), the brand earned a reputation for its quirky engineering and racing pedigree. Its earliest cars featured wooden chassis and unorthodox styling, with the Xylon being nicknamed the “Ugly Duckling.” And yet, big names like Jackie Stewart of Formula One and Derek Bell of Le Mans raced them.
Later models like the swoopy Marcos GT, which is no stranger to the Jaguar E-Type’s silhouette, helped cement its place as a low-volume but charismatic sports car maker, before financial troubles pushed it into a cycle of closures and rebirths. After fading out in 2007, Marcos went silent. Until recently.
Marcos
A Three-Pronged Comeback Plan
Marcos is officially back under new leadership. Businessman Howard Nash acquired all original assets of the brand in 2022, including tooling, molds, production rights, and the still-active Marcos Heritage Spares division. The newly formed Marcos Motor Company is already developing three major projects aimed at reviving the name with authenticity and relevance.
The first, dubbed Project #1, is a modern reinterpretation of a classic Marcos model. While details are slim, expect a sleek, rear-drive sports car that honors the brand’s past while adopting a contemporary drivetrain and platform.
Project #2 is an entirely new creation, unconnected to any legacy model, engineered for both road and track use. A crash-tested rolling chassis is already complete, signaling serious intent.
Project #3 focuses on continuation models, built using original body molds and CAD files. This program, alongside the Heritage division, will serve existing owners while keeping the classics alive. Marcos says the goal is to preserve the analog, driver-centric feel that once set it apart, while attracting a younger audience eager for raw, unfiltered performance.
Marcos
Confusion, Controversy, and Rich Energy
Of course, just like the Delorean and its current predicaments, no revival story would be complete without some off-track drama. Around the same time as Nash’s plans were announced, a separate company – Marcos Cars Ltd, headed by Rich Energy CEO William Storey – also claimed to own the rights to the Marcos name. Storey, best known for his disastrous sponsorship of the Haas F1 team in 2019, says his group will launch a lightweight supercar with F1-derived technology this November and has called Nash’s efforts “misleading.”
The Marcos Motor Company quickly refuted this, stating it holds the complete asset lineage and trademarks dating back to 1959. According to board advisor Mark Carbery, Storey’s company is not affiliated in any way. So while the real Marcos appears to be taking shape, the road ahead may still involve legal skirmishes.
Marcos
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