Smaller Marcii

Over the years production of scale models of Marcii has greatly outnumbered the real thing.

In the 60s Corgi built 1800 Volvo, 1600 Ford and 3 litre Ford GT coupes as well as a Mantis 4 seater and, probably the most famous, the Mini Marcos, which had detatchable wheels.

In February 1966, Corgi released model no 324, a 1:44 scale Marcos - Volvo 1800 GT. Available in white with double green stripe or blue with white stripes, until 1969, a set of self adhesive racing numbers was also provided. The car had opening bonnet and doors, with a driver figure and sprung suspension and 'detailed' engined bay. Sales of this model exceeded 848,000!

Above : Corgi's blue 1800, yellow 3 litre V6 and white 1800

Model no 341 was the Mini Marcos 850 GT, released in March 1968. This was the first of Corgi's Golden Jacks models and also had opening doors and rear hatch. This was in production until 1970, but sold over 636,000. I always reckoned the Mini Marcos was a beautiful car until I saw one in the flesh, as the Corgi model has a grace and balance which the real thing sadly lacks - Perhaps Jem should've drafted in Corgi's draftsmen...

In June 1970, Corgi replaced the long replaced 1800GT with the new(ish) 3 litre V6. Equipped with the tarty, but very 70s, WHIZZWHEEL's, the car lacked opening doors, but still had a fairly well detailed engine bay and an enormous Marcos badge! Available in Yellow with Black centre stripe, metallic green or metallic white with grey roof and costing just 6/11 (around 35p by today's money), this model was available until 1972 and around 235,000 were sold.

Below : Maroon 'Golden Jacks' Mini Marcos, green 3 litre V6 and Mantis 2+2

The Marcos Mantis 2+2 was modeled as model no 312 in 1:43 scale in August 1971. It came in maroon (roughly the same colour as the Mini Marcos) and had opening doors and silver plated headlights. It remained in production until 1974 at which point around 199,000 had been sold. Unlike the Mini Marcos, the Corgi Mantis captured the real thing's lines well...

In 1972, just before Marcos folded, Corgi replaced there Mini Marcos with a 'WHIZWHEELS' version. This was white with red and blue racing stripes and racing numbers. Total sales were around 123,000.

The Mantis XP racer also got modeled as a Corgi 'Junior', later Growler and Whizwheel, but always the same basic model which is much smaller scale than the full size Marcos as you can see from the photos above.

As well as the Marcos products proper, Corgi also modelled the Adams' brothers Probe in various versions.

These days there are a number of Marcos models available. There are a number of horribly expensive, but beautifully detailed 1/43 scale kits.

Western Models produce a 1:43 LM500 in the Computacenter colours of 1994 and Provence Moulage model the LM600 in that scale as a 1995 Le Mans car, 1996 Le Mans car or as a road car.

Mikansue models also make (or made) a model of the Xylon as a replica of Jackie Stewart's race car.

If you're interested in models of Marcos cars, but disuaded by the high price of the tiny 1/43rd scale models, then have a look around for Fly's LM600s.

The first released were a pair, one in the livery of the 1995 works Le Mans cars and the other liveried as Cor Euser's FIA GT car. The scale is 1/32, the price around £26 and the detail is excellent. What's even more remarkable is that these are slot racing cars, compatible with Scalextric. - Thanks to Jem Marsh (who has these for sale, along with Marcos regalia), who kindly presented me with the Euser car (especially well received as I'd already bought the Computacenter car!).

There are now many other versions of the LM600 including ones in Millenium and NCK Azlan racing colours, as seen in the BRDC and FIA GT series in 1997, one in the Fly colours (pretty much the multicoloured pattern seen over the last two years) and a new (and very costly) special edition one based on the Spanish championship, Sharp backed entry.

As things stand at the end of 2002, the Fly Marcos range is as follows :

Note that most of these cars are no longer available and some have become quite valuable as collectors items.

Possibly the smallest Marcos model has come to light courtesy of Barbara Donovan. She writes :

I am mailing you a couple of pictures of my Marcos models. These are
1/130th scale and hand produced in Japan. I have them in a wide range of
colours. The retail price of these is £5.99.

I have the sole rights for worldwide distributorship outside Japan which
keeps me very busy. Model Planning also make over 20 different Mini models
in 1/130th scale and 1/150th scale.

Bruce Paterson of Patto's Place produces some excellent slot car shells. Moulded in clear plastic they need a bit of care painting, but are excellent value and well made. Cost (including airmail from Australia) is very reasonable.

I'm no expert, but they look pretty good to me. Contact Bruce if you're interesed. Tell him you heard of him through me, if you do.

More recently, the Taylors Foundry, who have been running the LM600s in the 2002 BRDC GT series, have produced a couple of limited edition castings. One comes in Brass (very heavy) and one in light alloy (the silver one). The overall proportions and shape of the car are very good (although it has no rear wing). There were a few available last I knew, so contact them at www.tfm-gt.com if you are interested.

I wandered into a local Poundshop and there, amongst the toys, was this!

OK, it's not exactly an AutoArt model, but it was cheap and is the only scale model I've ever seen of a Mantis (Ian Turner pointed out that, of course, it's a model of an LM500 - The bonnet is wrong for a Mantis, but still it's the only replica I've seen of the later cars, except the LM600)! For information, it's about 8" long (A bit smaller than a 1/18th scale) and features a string powered motor!

If you fancy one, check eBay as I got hold of a few from another shop and am selling them there.

Christian Fey, from Germany, pointed me in the direction of Lion Models. - http://www.lion-models.de/elionm42.htm - who make 1/87 scale models of cars, including a Marcos Mantula 3,5 ltr.V8.

Finally, Dave McGill's excellent, and extensive, site concentrates on scale models of Marcos cars - some great photos (much better than these!) and detailed information here.

Check on the Links page for details of online companies who I've bought slot cars from without problem.