Marcos Maniacs

You are trying to apply a form of numerical logic to the Marcos 5000 series chassis numbers that is not supported by the facts.

How do I know? – Because I have read through every Marcos car file and compiled the first database back in the 1970’s

Originally Marcos used different number series for each model – 1000, 2000, 3000 and then 4000 (Marcos Volvo 1800)

After the Volvo 1800 the chassis numbers changed to 5000 and the chassis numbers for the Marcos 1500 start at 5001.

However all subsequent models (except the Mini-Marcos) until the original Marcos Cars Ltd company went out of business had a 5000 series number. The 5000 series chassis numbers were modified by the addition of a prefix when the 3 litre engine was introduced and then further modified when the metal chassis was introduced and continued right through to and including the Marcos Mantis cars.

The first 1650 was 5037

The first 1600 was 5059

5131 was built as a 1600

The 1600 series engines were prefixed “D”

5134 was built as a 1500

The 1500 series engines were in a series K4142/- -

Production of the various Ford straight four cylinder engined cars, 1500, 1600 and 1650 was mixed up. It all depended on what the customer wanted. There is no definable sequencing of chassis numbers for these cars.

The first of the 3LV6 cars was 5303 but cars were still being built with the four cylinder engines.

5521 was a wood chassis 1600 built after production of cars with metal chassis had started.

The only way to have absolute certainty regarding any Marcos is by physical examination AND checking the paperwork against what is actually fitted to the car. It was not unknown for mistakes to be made – for example when cars shipped from the factory as component cars had the wrong numbered engine sold with the car and no one bothered to cross check the actual number stamped in the engine with the engine number on the paperwork. How do I know? Because I have actually seen two cars originally shipped by Marcos to the same dealer who when he then sold the cars got the engines mixed up and no one noticed until I saw both cars at a Marcos Owners Club meeting and found that they had the “wrong” engines according to the factory paperwork in the car file.

Regards

David

From: MarcosManiacs@yahoogroups.com [mailto:MarcosManiacs@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: 04 February 2019 22:03
To: MarcosManiacs@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [MarcosManiacs] Re: Wood Chassis car on E-Bay is back

Hi

I would guess it’s a 1600gt

As the chassis numbers for the 1500 start at 5001 82 cars built = 5083. Build years 1966-67

1650gt 20 to 32 cars built? Chassis 5084 = max 5116 build years 1967

1600gt 192 cars built chassis 5117 onwards build years 1968-69

My 1600gt has chassis no. 5239 built 1968

I’m only guessing.

Regards

Rebel

On 4 Feb 2019, at 20:46, passthespanner@yahoo.com [MarcosManiacs] <MarcosManiacs@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

This car is chassis 5134, advertised as a 1500 and not listed in the registry. Car 5131 in the registry is listed as a 1600. Does that mean 5134 is actually a 1600 or 5131 is actually a 1500 as the numbers overlap?