Description
Marcos Spyder Prototype – Chassis 2003
Chapter 1
189 BER is probably the most significant Marcos to be offered from the Jem Marsh and Frank Costin era. A bold statement from a used car dealer, perhaps — but let it sink in.
Think about it: two businessmen set up a company to make a racing car from plywood and fiberglass! At the time, Lotus were experimenting with full fiberglass monocoques, but they were relatively heavy. Plywood gave Marcos an edge in lightness.
189 BER is one of the early prototype cars, originally acquired in kit form by Peter Adams to build as an open-top car. The chassis had been initially designed as a Gullwing coupe.
Marcos faced financial difficulty very early on, and in 1962 Jem Marsh commandeered Peter Adams’ car to display as a new concept at the London Racing Car Show on 2nd February. It featured a modified Gullwing bonnet, redesigned and presented as an open Spyder.
However, the racing fraternity showed more interest in a successor to the Gullwing than in the open-top Spyder. The team needed a solution — fast.
Legend has it that Dennis Adams hacked the fastback shape out of a block of styrofoam using a breadknife, placing it on top of a Spyder. The result was the GT Fastback, a shape reminiscent of the Shelby Cobra. In the following 18 months, around 18 GT Fastbacks were built. As few as three are thought to survive today, including 189 BER.
Chapter 2: The Birth of the Marcos Martin
189 BER was later sold by Peter Adams to Vic Russ, who raced it with Marcos development engineer Terry Sanger. After an incident with Sanger at the wheel, he was “encouraged” to buy the car around 1963/ 4.
During its rebuild, Sanger took the opportunity to install a dry-sumped engine fitted with the very rare 12-valve Martin head on a Ford 1500cc block, bored out to 1650cc. This was mated to a 4-speed gearbox and Riley 1. 5 back axle, and the car became known as the Marcos Martin.
Chapter 3: The Marcos Martin Goes International
In 1965, 189 BER went international, competing in the Nürburgring 1000km (23rd May) and the 500km (5th September), alongside domestic events at Silverstone, Brands Hatch, and Castle Combe. It shared grids with the likes of Ferrari 250 LMs, AC Cobras, and Porsche 904s.
Later, the rare Martin engine was separated from 189 BER and replaced with an early 1189cc fuel-injected unit. In 2023, under new enthusiastic ownership, another 12-valve Martin engine was sourced, with the ambition of applying for FIA HTP papers and entering the Goodwood Fordwater Trophy. This plan was still in its infancy when another car took the owner’s eye, and 189 BER was exchanged with my client.
My client has carefully housed 189 BER since. After much soul-searching and discussion over the past year, they have decided to offer this remarkable opportunity. The car comes with the correct 12-valve Martin engine (included in the sale) for the next owner to install. With FIA papers, the world of historic motorsport could truly be your oyster.
189 BER is arguably the most important and unique Marcos in existence. With FIA HTP papers, it offers a compelling chance to write a new chapter in its remarkable story.
The car comes with:
• A full photographic record of its most recent restoration (2010–2016)
• Full road registration papers
• The rare 12-valve Martin engine
• An extensive history file
189 BER still proudly displays its exposed plywood lower body sections — a hallmark of Marcos originality.
Marcos Fastback 189 BER – Period Race History (selected highlights)
• 2 Feb 1963 – London Racing Car Show (Olympia West Hall) – displayed on the Marcos stand
• 24 Jun 1964 – Castle Combe – GT Car Race “A”, entered by V. Rus (#123, 1498cc)
• 17 Jul 1964 – BRSCC Oulton Park – entered by V. Rus (#35, 1500cc)
• 26 Dec 1964 – Mallory Park (Boxing Day) – entered by Tony Kilburn Racing, driven by T. Sanger (1650cc)
• 23 May 1965 – Nürburgring 1000km – entered by Tony Kilburn, driven by T. Sanger / S. De Lautour (#29, DNF, engine)
• 8 Aug 1965 – Brands Hatch (Redex Championship) – driven by T. Sanger (#138, 1650cc) against Cobras, Ferrari 250 LMs, Porsche 904s
• 5 Sep 1965 – Nürburgring 500km – entered by Marcos GB, driven by T. Sanger (#29, DNS)
(and further events as detailed in the full history file).
Background: The Birth of Marcos
Jem Marsh, formerly of Firestone Tyres, set up Speedex Cars in Luton in 1958, building Austin 7-based 750 racing specials.
In 1959, he met aerodynamicist Frank Costin, who had previously worked on the de Havilland Mosquito fighter-bomber. Inspired by its plywood construction, Costin applied similar principles to automotive design. Marsh and Costin went on to found Marcos in Dolgellau, North Wales, later that same year.
