Marauder Cars

Marauder Car Company Limited was a British car venture by ex-Rover engineers George Mackie and Peter Wilks. After successfully racing their single-seater Marauder racing car the pair left Rover in 1950 and formed Wilks, Mackie and Company to exploit their idea of a two-seater sports car based on the new Rover 75 chassis. In 1951 they changed the company's name to Marauder Car Company.

Around 15 cars were made before a sharp luxury tax imposed on cars priced over £1,000 brought sales to an end and George Mackie and Peter Wilks rejoined Rover.

Design

The design was largely the work of Peter Wilks and

The car named the "A", later joined by the more powerful "100", was based on the

The 6-cylinder, inlet over exhaust valve, 2103 cc Rover engine was slightly modified with higher compression ratio to raise the output by 5 bhp (4 kW; 5 PS) to 80 bhp (60 kW; 81 PS) whilst the 100 version was bored out to 2392 cc and fitted with triple SU carburettors to give 105 bhp (78 kW; 106 PS). The "A" was capable of 90 mph (145 km/h) and the "100" 100 mph (161 km/h)^[2]

Manufacture

Manufacturing started in Dorridge, near Solihull, in Warwickshire and later continued in Kenilworth, between 1950 and 1952. In 1951 Wilks, Mackie and Company's name was changed to Marauder Car Company.^{[note 2][2]}

The first few bodies were made by Richard Mead in his Dorridge works and used some Rover panels but later ones were made by Abbey Panels of Coventry.^[2]

About 15 cars were made including 2 of the "100"s before rising costs and tax changes priced the cars out of the market. The UK government doubled the already high level of Purchase Tax on cars with a pre-tax price above £1000.^[3] In 1950 the car cost £1236 rising to over £2000 in 1952.^[2]

Both George Mackie and Peter Wilks rejoined Rover.

Note

See also

• List of car manufacturers of the United Kingdom

References