Marcos Mantara LM600 GT2
Dusk was falling over Silverstone when a commanding noise erupted from the pitlane. The brand new Marcos LM600 had fired up for the very first time. The following morning that same car claimed pole position in the opening round of the BRDC GT Championship. The car had never even turned a wheel before…..
MARCOS was founded by Jem Marsh and Frank Costin back in 1959 in North Wales, building lightweight cars using plywood chassis. The street cars where perfectly suited for use on race tracks, giving Marcos soon a racing heritage. Originally this lasted until 1971, when the company stumbled onto financial problems. Jem Marsh stayed in the car business, and bought back the rights to the Marcos name in 1976. He resurrected the brand in 1981, offering the previous GT cars as kits. In 1992 Marcos left the kit car business, all cars from this point onwards being factory built, and launched the Marcos Mantara. In October 1993 Marcos unveiled its new competition car and announced a return to GT racing, including Le Mans. Based on the Mantara, the cars were designated LM400, LM500 and LM600.
In it first year of competition the Mantara LM600 gave Team Marcos the 1995 BRDC National Sports GT Championship, claiming 9 class wins and 8 lap records from the 12 race season. It would go on and win it again in 1996 and 2000. The factory also despatched a two car team to contest the grueling Le Mans 24 hour race in 1995, where the team came away with three ACO awards, a highly commendable finish and the enthusiastic support of the huge crowd. The LM600’s distinctive exhaust note became a rally cry for British race-goers all around the circuit.
This specific car, with chassis no. 9604, is build at the Marcos factory, but a dutch crew took care of the work. It is the last LM600 in line, 1 of only 4 build. It has been used by Cor Euser from the first beginning, who raced it under Marcos Racing International. This with great success, dominating BPR Championship in 1996, and runned at 24 hours Lemans in 1997 with Euser, Becker and Suzuki. It took no less than 5 pole positions in 1998 in FIA GT.
The provocative curves of the bodyshell, developed and tested in the MIRA windtunnel, hide an immensely strong steel chassis. The roll cage, longitudinal outriggers and generous box section cross members create the perfect rigid anchorage for the car’s race suspension. Front uses McPherson suspension, rear uses double A arms. A 6L Chevrolet V8 “small block” ensures power and a amazing sound, coupled to a sequential gearbox and final drive. The car has been fully rebuild by it’s former owner, and hardly been used since. The body has been made out of composite material, including Kevlar and carbon fibre.
The car is for sale including a small spare parts package. Feel free to contact us for more information, pictures and pricing.
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