Nearly missed it. At the end of last week's CCW (Jan 27th) under a feature on "Woodies" there is a nice shot of a #*%%## Marcos in woodland. Alongside wood clad , half timbered Morris Minor Traveller,Cortina Super Estate, Austin A70 and Mini Countryman is a Marcos 1800GT. A nice change to the comparisons with TVRs!
Marcos in Classic Car weekly
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 nomis |
Marcos in Classic Car weekly |
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Posts: 62 Wed, 3-Feb-2010 20:50 |
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marco mantara |
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Posts: 198 Wed, 3-Feb-2010 21:16 |
A Marcos 1800GT estate?-----------------
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OldNoccer |
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Posts: 913 Wed, 3-Feb-2010 21:44 |
I think you may have mis-read the post, I think the 'woody' connection was the Marcos chassis, not a shootingbrake body - but if a Marcos estate IS your dream car, well what can I say .....
 I'll keep an eye open for you!
There's a lot of talk these days about green transport. Well, I am ahead of the game, I already have green transport ... British racing green.
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Mike009 Gardner |
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Posts: 407 Thu, 4-Feb-2010 09:57 Junior mechanic |
On the subject of car mags , what has happened to the long promised feature on Big LM in Classic Cars ? The months pass and nothing , anyone out there know ?
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Plug |
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Posts: 33 Thu, 4-Feb-2010 10:52 |
I have quite a bit of dealings with the car mags and had a moan with the lads at Practical classics Neil anf Fuzz about the non mention of 50 years of Marcos....... seams they all think its a kit car ( that old Chestnut) when I pointed out that they don't mind featuring Lotus Elans to Rochdales and other kit cars they had the sense to be embarrased so you never know. Perhaps they have never driven one that would change there minds I'm sure.
Ian Love my kit car made from bits manufactured or put together in a factory a lot of them Ford.....sounds a bit like every other car to me |
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paulo |
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Posts: 137 Thu, 4-Feb-2010 12:37 Apprentice mechanic |
I'm glad they were a bit embarassed. One would assume they should know what they're talking about. As far as I can tell, the history, and company structure, of Marcos and @%* are fairly similar (inlcuding the number of times they've each gone to the wall) with both producing 'hand-built' cars. Apart from a spell during the 80's offering kits, Marcos have always been a 'bonafide' car production company haven't they? And yet Marcos is always labelled "Kit Car" (regardless of the model) whilst @%* has never really been stuck with that label. And as far as 'donors' where does one draw the line anyway? Lotus Esprits used parts from Rover SD1s (rear lights) and, I think, door handles from Morris Marinas. As did Aston Martin with their Hillman Hunter rear lights on one, or some, of their models - as well as using TR4 lights on other models. TVRs are almost identical mechanically to Marcos using mostly Ford/Triumph running parts and Ford V6 or Rover V8 engines. At the end of the day a lot of cars dip into the same parts bin in order to keep production costs down. I don't have a problem with owning a 'kit car' as mine is a 1987 Mantula but credit where credit's due - Marcos have a fairly impressive history with the likes of Jackie Stewart starting their career in one and being the only British marque to finish the 1966 Le Mans. Not sure how @%* measures up to that...
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Mike009 Gardner |
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Posts: 408 Thu, 4-Feb-2010 13:14 Junior mechanic |
Agree agree agree with Paulo and it`s all been said before. What is this reluctance to feature Marcos cars and yes, you would expect people working for car mags to know about marque history , or at least research it. |
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OldNoccer |
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Posts: 914 Thu, 4-Feb-2010 21:36 |
Maybe we are just not a good fit when they consider whether an article will sell more copies. For example the ownership is a bit small for the interest of the owners alone to warrant it, and the mass appeal to non-owners is not 'quite' enough to make enough extra people buy the magazine because of a Marcos article.
It is hard to increase the ownership of cars as no more are being made (unlike Ginetta), but the rest of the argument is rather circular of course, and I can only say that we need to keep on taking every opportunity to get the message across, from Cor's success to the anniversary rally, and beyond. However, we have to face it, the racing success is slipping, and we are probably after Classic magazines of one sort or another to keep the interest up. However, if you look at Redline's prices .. then that alone is an argument you can use with a magazine. These cars are going up in value !!! They are becoming the thing to have - and I am so glad I have got one. Steve
There's a lot of talk these days about green transport. Well, I am ahead of the game, I already have green transport ... British racing green.
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Mike009 Gardner |
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Posts: 409 Fri, 5-Feb-2010 12:44 Junior mechanic |
If it`s down to size of ownership , is that why many car mags always run articles on rare and expensive £multi million Ferraris and Bugati`s .Must be lots of those owners about !!
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brian coleman |
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Posts: 301 Fri, 5-Feb-2010 16:56 Apprentice mechanic |
Maybe we should copy Millwall FC fans' motto, " No one likes us but we don't care"
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Martyn123 |
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Posts: 201 Fri, 5-Feb-2010 19:24 |
But from another angle, i quite like the idea of repeating "I said a Marcos" to the younger confused looking ones in the office, and owning something so different your average boy racer has never even heard off, and then when they look one up on the www their jaw drops !!!
Don't follow the crowd, get a Marcos, Martyn..... |
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marco mantara |
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Posts: 200 Fri, 5-Feb-2010 21:25 |
l think l'm going to print off a load of photos of Marcos cars which l can sadly flash ("this is my eldest...".type of thing) in pubs or whenever anyone says "a what--?" |
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Plug |
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Posts: 34 Tue, 9-Feb-2010 14:51 |
Well this will kill you all.......... I had to do a photo shoot for "Classics Monthly" showing them how to step by step rust proof their Morris 1800 ( hmm I know !) When I asked them where they where situated they said " Bath " so I booked into the Royal hotel by the station and off I drove, the next morning I put the post code of the shoot address in my sat Nav. they have an industrial unit they do all the feature car work in. So off I toodle into Bradford upon Avon, I thought Marcos used to be made here, then I thought again I wonder if this crew has had an article on Marcos seeing that they where built on the magazines doorstep and Rory is just down the road. I turned into the industrial estate and thought I've been here before this is Jeremy's estate, checked again on my sat nav to make sure I'd put the correct address and not cliked on my previous visit to Redline, I had. I found their unit...just around the back of Jeremy's. So I asked them did they know Jeremy....blank looks... I explained he used to be the sales director of Marcos and that he had a load of tastie Marcos cars they ought to check out, they said they knew someone was there but hadn't looked. I then asked them why they hadn't featured their local manufacturer Marcos, and they said they had made a mention in a paragraph after the 50 year do, but hadn't considered doing more............... So there you have it March or April issue of "Classics Monthly" will have my ugly mug on the front cover with an article on how to rust proof a Morris land crab 1800 ............... but no Marcos article.
Glad to get this off my chest ...it actually pee'd me off. Ian |
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marcosrater |
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Posts: 60 Wed, 10-Feb-2010 10:07 Apprentice mechanic |
Hi Ian.
There is a unit on our estate which I have visited a few times - it is rented out by Future publishing and has several motoring magazines operating from there. IE. Classics Monthly - Mini Magazine and strangely enough Redline Magazine and possibly one or two more. Please can you let me have your contact name and number or pass him the website link www.redlinesportscars.com so that I will be able to invite him around to my showroom to see my great of Marcos cars that we currently have in stock - who knows we may be able to gently persuade/embarrass him to do a decent Marcos article soon. Jeremy. |
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Plug |
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Posts: 35 Wed, 10-Feb-2010 12:09 |
Hi Jeremy
The contact name is James very amiable, and it is Future publishing his contact office number is 01225- 442244. ext 2220. I'm sure they would love a peek he is on the editorial side so you won't get pestered by the advertising people. I called around to see if you where in and all was quiet. Ian |
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Mike009 Gardner |
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Posts: 412 Wed, 10-Feb-2010 13:17 Junior mechanic |
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Mike009 Gardner |
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Posts: 414 Wed, 10-Feb-2010 15:03 Junior mechanic |
Hi Jeremy, going the thread a bit but did you get my e-mail about `Tornado` on Sunday ?
Mike. |
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marcosrater |
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Posts: 61 Wed, 10-Feb-2010 17:27 Apprentice mechanic |
Many thanks Ian.
I will get in touch with James at Future publishing and see if we can encourage him to do something about Marcos cars soon. Jeremy. |
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marcosrater |
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Posts: 62 Wed, 10-Feb-2010 17:44 Apprentice mechanic |
Hi Mike.
Yes thank you I did receive your emaul regarding your trip on the world famous "Tornado" Unfortunately we will not be able to wave you through at Westbury as we have to attend a family wedding in North Yorkshire this weekend (Weather permitting) Have a great trip and we look forward to hearing about your experience soon. Jeremy. (Green with envy) PS. Nice photos of the Mantara in the middle of no-where. |
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Plug |
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Posts: 36 Thu, 11-Feb-2010 10:08 |
James Page ( if there is more than one James in the office)
Ian |
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Mike009 Gardner |
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Posts: 416 Thu, 11-Feb-2010 13:24 Junior mechanic |
Hi Jeremy, |
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or am I getting bitter in my old age !
Sure made the Mantara pull up a bit quick in a shower of gravel !
