TVR's natural Competitor / Successor Founded too now......
Discussion
They talked a Good Fight but no one ever recieved a car.
From EVO - End of road for Marcos
Famous sports car company wound up
Marcos TSO GT came very close to fulfilling its potential as a TVR successor
Marcos announced last month that it had called in the administrators. In a statement, MD Tony Stelliga said ‘Regrettably, despite the extraordinary efforts of our employees, suppliers and dealers, we simply could not attain a profit point, reduce our cost base or raise the necessary capital to sustain the business.’
The tiny British sports car company went into receivership in 2000 and was resurrected in 2002 by Stelliga, a Canadian-born electronics tycoon. Stelliga was the owner and the company’s sole source of capital. Speaking to evo, he said that it was the unfavourable dollar/pound exchange rate that had prompted the decision, the dollar now being worth half what it was five years ago.
Stelliga and his team had worked hard to develop a car that could match the appeal of products from TVR, a marque he much admired. He employed ex-TVR stylist Damian McTaggart to style the open-topped TSO and later TSO GT coupe and struck a deal with GM for a supply of Chevrolet LSx V8s . Prodrive was commissioned to develop the car and create a production facility at its Warwick site.
All appeared to be in place for success despite a protracted development programme, with a number of orders in the book, but Stelliga pulled the plug when it became clear that there was no long-term financial viability.
‘It’s been painful,’ he said. ‘It’s a great product and all the guys did a great job. Once the decision was made I elected for a graceful end for the company – I didn’t want it to suffer with speculation.’
From EVO - End of road for Marcos
Famous sports car company wound up
Marcos TSO GT came very close to fulfilling its potential as a TVR successor
Marcos announced last month that it had called in the administrators. In a statement, MD Tony Stelliga said ‘Regrettably, despite the extraordinary efforts of our employees, suppliers and dealers, we simply could not attain a profit point, reduce our cost base or raise the necessary capital to sustain the business.’
The tiny British sports car company went into receivership in 2000 and was resurrected in 2002 by Stelliga, a Canadian-born electronics tycoon. Stelliga was the owner and the company’s sole source of capital. Speaking to evo, he said that it was the unfavourable dollar/pound exchange rate that had prompted the decision, the dollar now being worth half what it was five years ago.
Stelliga and his team had worked hard to develop a car that could match the appeal of products from TVR, a marque he much admired. He employed ex-TVR stylist Damian McTaggart to style the open-topped TSO and later TSO GT coupe and struck a deal with GM for a supply of Chevrolet LSx V8s . Prodrive was commissioned to develop the car and create a production facility at its Warwick site.
All appeared to be in place for success despite a protracted development programme, with a number of orders in the book, but Stelliga pulled the plug when it became clear that there was no long-term financial viability.
‘It’s been painful,’ he said. ‘It’s a great product and all the guys did a great job. Once the decision was made I elected for a graceful end for the company – I didn’t want it to suffer with speculation.’
dinkel said:
Old news but hey, from what I've heard the - what, 6? - owners had to sort out quite a few niggles on the Marcos . . .
It took way too long to get the car out, but unfortunately it still wasn't ready.
How bloody hard can it be! Jeeesus.......... no wonder this country has no car industry and is slipping down the pan almost as fast as the US of A (which is Great for me getting partsIt took way too long to get the car out, but unfortunately it still wasn't ready.
).I still don't get it.
I posted a thread a few weeks ago about yank muscle, curious who'd consider it, but I just don't get it.
I remember some TVR types, and Melling saying you just can't get a car out for 35-40k with proper performance, even without modern bits like airbag, traction, etc.
Then I look at upcoming cars like the Dodge Challenger with a 450hp hemi which will be launching for between 30-35k _dollars_. I mean, this isn't going to be a huge volume car. How is it they can launch a car for 16-20k, and a small British marque can't launch a car for even twice that with comparable engine? I mean a bespoke interior is nice and I love the look of a TVR, but there does seem to be something wrong.
(The only problem with the first year Challenger is that it'll be all auto. Won't have a manual until the 2009 model year. Why my fellow Americans would want a simple auto for a 450hp RWD muscle car I have no idea alas).
I posted a thread a few weeks ago about yank muscle, curious who'd consider it, but I just don't get it.
I remember some TVR types, and Melling saying you just can't get a car out for 35-40k with proper performance, even without modern bits like airbag, traction, etc.
Then I look at upcoming cars like the Dodge Challenger with a 450hp hemi which will be launching for between 30-35k _dollars_. I mean, this isn't going to be a huge volume car. How is it they can launch a car for 16-20k, and a small British marque can't launch a car for even twice that with comparable engine? I mean a bespoke interior is nice and I love the look of a TVR, but there does seem to be something wrong.
(The only problem with the first year Challenger is that it'll be all auto. Won't have a manual until the 2009 model year. Why my fellow Americans would want a simple auto for a 450hp RWD muscle car I have no idea alas).
Just saw the announced pricing on the Challenger actually: $37,995. And that's nearly loaded. (Only 3 options: Summer only tires, info panel (GPS?), and a power sunroof).
So £18464, for a nice 450hp RWD toy. Its sort of depressing that the British car industry just can't match something like that, or even twice that.
So £18464, for a nice 450hp RWD toy. Its sort of depressing that the British car industry just can't match something like that, or even twice that.
Nickthebassist said:
Not another mint british sports car manufacturer down the pan? Who next? Ultima?
No never, they understand their niche.Wild said:
I still don't get it. (. . .) Then I look at upcoming cars like the Dodge Challenger with a 450hp hemi which will be launching for between 30-35k _dollars_. I mean, this isn't going to be a huge volume car. How is it they can launch a car for 16-20k, and a small British marque can't launch a car for even twice that with comparable engine? I mean a bespoke interior is nice and I love the look of a TVR, but there does seem to be something wrong.
That's totally different numbers.Marcos was a low volume sportscar producer as was TVR. Lotus is struggling and making variations of one car for their found niche. It ain't all that easy.
The Dodge Challenger will be sold by way more people. And you get a boot, and an interior that copes with our fat bellies!
petclub said:
I saw a TSO at Melton about 10 days ago. It did look good, great plate on it V8 00MPH which I've seen on a Cerbie in Sprint this year (I think).
Hi, yep bought the Marcos with the hope that it was the beginning of something great,but alas not to be. Miss the cerb beyond words (didnt help being in sprint twice!)-was much more fun on the track so as compromise just bought a tasmin race car therefore kind of back to TVR. The Marcos is a great road car & now likely to remain very rare! V800MPH said:
petclub said:
I saw a TSO at Melton about 10 days ago. It did look good, great plate on it V8 00MPH which I've seen on a Cerbie in Sprint this year (I think).
Hi, yep bought the Marcos with the hope that it was the beginning of something great,but alas not to be. Miss the cerb beyond words (didnt help being in sprint twice!)-was much more fun on the track so as compromise just bought a tasmin race car therefore kind of back to TVR. The Marcos is a great road car & now likely to remain very rare! If they had adopted the TVR method-build it ,sell it with the faults & the next one out the door improve there would have been many more on the road & maybe even a company to speak of.Unfortunatly the deisre to produce the perfect car lead to little production,no sales therefore no profit/cashflow not to mention zero user feed back.
V800MPH said:
When building one car at a time & 6 are made are they production or pre-production??
Don't know but from the cars I have seen and the press release sounds like know were actually sold to customers, at least not as a full production car by the factory / dealers. Think most were tuned LS1's, not the LS6 with wilder cams and higher ratio rockers claimed (475bhp - just dreaming! 445 at most if that spec on an LS6 or 2). Think Boosted did at least one of the LS1 tuned up lumps.my car was bought through a dealer -did the usual factory visit picking colours,carpet speck etc then 4 months later car was built & delivered (all be it with a few problems) to speck & order.As for technical data you quote all i know is theres a large metal thing in the front with loud pipes coming out the back like my old car.I believe the heavy metal thing up fronts an LS2 engine & on one rolling road supposed to produce 476 bhp then 1 week later on another produced 430 bhp.either way take your pick its still very quick.
Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff