Marcos Engineering Appoints Giles Cooper as...

[AMG Merc]

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=343729&f=21&h=0

[RichardD]

The Marcos website always manages to confuse me. First the engine was a 5.7, then a 6.0 and now it seems to be a 5.7 again

Whatever though, the value for money is certainly now a notch or two better than any "European outsourced TVR", should such cars ever actually be produced.

[Ribol]

“His experience and enthusiasm with specialist British sports cars will help us manage the burgeoning demand for the TSO”

Not knocking the car in any way but is there a burgeoning demand for the TSO then?

[bjwoods]

According to Evo, all previlous incarnations seen in the press of the new marco, were just for the press and customer feedback, no intention of building it... The current one is the result of the development process and is for sale...

I like the concept, the drivetrain, the handling seems to have been sorted by prodrive, just a few deatils, for me, let it down ie the cockpit layout.

Plus, I would want, and will wait to see a convertible.
B

[Ribol]

bjwoods said:

let it down ie the cockpit layout.

Not to my taste either, but is there really a large enough market for 6.0L sportscars to make a living at it?

Hopefully they will succeed where others(TVR) have failed as they have two distinct advantages - no NS, no S6.

[bjwoods]

depend on th ebusiness plan... ie break even point..

ie 100 cars a year, 200, 300? 400?

and where they can sell them...

I assume it will have been developed to be sold in europe as well...

So not impossible?
Morgan manage to do it, but with a v different type of car market stragety

Hoever if the new corvette ever got a rhd version sold here, that would hurt marcos

B

Edited by bjwoods on Thursday 11th January 09:37

[grumbledoak]

Er, please forgive my ignorance, but given the cross post into TVR, should I know who Giles Cooper is ?
Ex-TVR designer ?

[anonymous-user]

If I had the money, I would by one off the looks of the car the press have been using, rather than an NS TVR.

All in all I think its good news and I'm very pleased for Giles

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 11th January 10:54

[TT Tim]

grumbledoak said:

Er, please forgive my ignorance, but given the cross post into TVR, should I know who Giles Cooper is ?
Ex-TVR designer ?

I believe I'm right in saying that Giles was 'TVR Barnet' the oldest TVR dealer in the UK.

I haven't personally had any experience with Giles, other than visiting the Barnet showroom way back when I was at Uni in Notrh London, looking lustfully at the Griffith, thinking 'I'll never own one of those'.

Tim

[RichardD]

bjwoods said:

depend on the business plan...

From what I've read on here, they have a small staff (20?), so no TVR style overheads.

The engine it uses is what I think to be the logical progression from the RV8, more power, more torque (more revs too) and probably lower maintenance than even the Rover too.

If the cam is still sensible (so it can say pick up from 1000 revs) then with the T56 box it could cruise with better mpg than any TVR - the 7 litre Corvette can do 30mpg.

I do think its bloomin expensive for a car consisting of crate engine, steel tubes and fibreglass though, but there has been a lot of development and the Prodrive involvement wouldn't have been cheap !

What you are paying for I suppose is simplicity (that's sort of paradoxical) ?

[noddy2]

Have you seen how uggly it is !
Won't be getting my money,ever,ever,ever.

[anonymous-user]

I quite like it, well the ones I have seen in print. Have they changed it much?

[Ribol]

KirstM said:

If I had the money, I would by one off the looks of the car the press have been using, rather than an NS TVR. I would also choose to buy from Barnet as Giles is a great guy.

All in all I think its good news and I'm very pleased for the team at Barnet

I thought TVR Barnet were no longer?

Not sure why but from what I read I assumed Giles was joining Marcos at their end?

[anonymous-user]

Ribol said:

KirstM said:

If I had the money, I would by one off the looks of the car the press have been using, rather than an NS TVR. I would also choose to buy from Barnet as Giles is a great guy.

All in all I think its good news and I'm very pleased for the team at Barnet

I thought TVR Barnet were no longer?

Not sure why but from what I read I assumed Giles was joining Marcos at their end?

D'uh silly me amending my post

[Horse_Apple]

RichardD said:

bjwoods said:

depend on the business plan...

From what I've read on here, they have a small staff (20?), so no TVR style overheads.

The engine it uses is what I think to be the logical progression from the RV8, more power, more torque (more revs too) and probably lower maintenance than even the Rover too.

If the cam is still sensible (so it can say pick up from 1000 revs) then with the T56 box it could cruise with better mpg than any TVR - the 7 litre Corvette can do 30mpg.

I do think its bloomin expensive for a car consisting of crate engine, steel tubes and fibreglass though, but there has been a lot of development and the Prodrive involvement wouldn't have been cheap !

What you are paying for I suppose is simplicity (that's sort of paradoxical) ?

I think that when you look at the investment made to get this car to the road and compare it to the planned sales figures then even with a healthy profit margin on the cars they will never recoup their innitial costs.

The chap must have just sunk a chunk of money just for the fun of owning the company and building what looks like a great car.

I would certainly consider buying one after they've put a couple of years of production behind them.

[tubbystu]

Nice to see the engine start button is included in the standard spec

[holsaway]

grumbledoak said:

Er, please forgive my ignorance, but given the cross post into TVR, should I know who Giles Cooper is ?
Ex-TVR designer ?

YES you should !!!!