The new edition of Auto Motor Klassiek is again full of interesting stories and compelling reports. How about the story about Buby den Heeten's Marcos 3 Liter V6 GT? A while ago, photographer Bart Spijker and Erik van Putten made a report with Buby and his British exotic. A preview.
During a beautiful and successful day we reported on our experiences with the Marcos, which has a steel chassis rather than a wooden one. In addition, the Marcos has Ford's 3-Litre Essex engine on board. And in combination with the fiberglass bodywork, this provides fun experiences.
The Marcos 3 Liter V6 GT revealed itself as a car that gives a very unique experience to driving an exclusive classic sports car. You're lying in the car, which requires a lot of work. And you do that in a car that, with its Adams bodywork, plays an admirable game with the senses. Lots of curves, an ultra-low build, and a flat cut back are just a few ingredients that make the Brit a unique design. With a richly filled interior, too.
Nice detail: the car was once ordered new by a Briton living in Italy who ordered his dream car through a Roman agency. And despite the fact that Italy also has a reputation to uphold in the field of exotics, the Briton chose not to deny his origins. A Marcos was the choice, and we also got a nice insight into the production process of the ordered car.
And then of course the question is how the current owner ended up with the Marcos. Why his classic became a Marcos. How that preference arose. And what Buby's original wish was, because already in his student days he explicitly focused on another Briton with stature.
No, we won't reveal everything. But the seven-page report is a beautiful representation of the day, of our impressions of a classic that represents contradiction in terms. Rattle and Hum in it. And you also get a portion of the history of the illustrious car manufacturer of yesteryear. You can read that and much more in the wonderfully packed edition of Auto Motor Klassiek. When you the preview you will immediately know why you should not miss AMK 2-2024.
In the 80s I visited the then importer for the Benelux in Belgium because I wanted a Mantula V8. The best man was only interested in getting me as a dealer for the Netherlands, but then I had to buy one. The joke was that there was only type approval for the Netherlands with a 4 cylinder Ford engine and I didn't like that. Beautiful model but for me not without a V8. And what an ultimately strange figure that was then, for real good faith…. Not.
Then finally built a Cobra with a 7 liter Ford V8, wonderful. But a Marcos, beautiful cars. Quite strange with Jem Marsh and such.
I have always found Marcos a beautiful model, unfortunately unattainable for me.
It was already for sale in the 60s, with an interruption during the entire 70s, during which the company was bankrupt, it was for sale again in the 80s, after a restart.
I find the back especially impressive.