What you’re looking at here is an official reconstruction of the highly eccentric one-off 1968 Marcos Mantis XP. This example was first registered in the year 1970, and differs slightly from the original car. Marcos engineering was a British sport car manufacturer that was founded in 1959 and became defunct in 2007. The name ‘Marcos’ derives from the owners names Jem Marsh and Frank Costin (Mar-Cos). The Mantis XP might’ve been one of their most interesting cars they ever produced, although pretty much every car they made was extremely UFO-like. The Mantis XP was a racing car designed for the Group 6 Prototype category. Power came from a mid-mounted 3.0L Repco V8 F1 engine, and like earlier Marcos cars, it was built on a stressed-plywood monocoque chassis. The design for the body was styled by brothers Dennis and Peter Adams. Only one car was ever made and it was only ever raced once in 1968 the the 1000 km event at Spa. The car was unfortunately plagued with electrical problems in heavy rain. The car was never raced again and the engine was later swapped for a Buick V8. The plexiglass cabin and engine compartment are its signature feature and provide a futuristic design for the Mantis XP, and as wild as it was in 1968, it might even be more outlandish to see now. The construction also includes side mounted fuel tanks and radiators. The car was entered for Le Mans at one point in 1968 but unfortunately the FIA decided to post-pone the 24 hour race until late September due to student riots in Paris. The XP competed in all three days of the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the year 2010. Overall the Mantis XP is easily one of the most interestingly designed machines ever put on the road!•How many made? The Mantis XP is a true 1 of 1! This is a reconstruction of the original car.•Engine: Originally fitted with a 3.0L Repco F1 V8 engine that developed approximately 300 horsepower. The engine was later replaced with an ordinary Rover V8.•Debut: It’s one and only Motorsport debut and race was at the 1968 1000km event at Spa. •Top Speed: unknown •0-60: unknown•Photo credit: @car_spottingham•Research: @rarecarsonly
1968 Marcos Mantis XP
22.05.2024
Marcos