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Marauder
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| Defunct |
Marauder Cars founded by Rover engineers George Mackie and Peter Wilks was a British car company that built a sports car at premises initially in Dorridge, West Midlands and later in Kenilworth, Warwickshire between 1950 and 1952. Initially called Wilks, Mackie and Company the name changed to the Marauder Car Company in 1951.
The design was largely the work of Peter Wilks and "Spen" King who, like Wilks, was a nephew of brothers Spencer and Maurice Wilks who ran the Rover car company and was later famous for his involvement in many Rover and Leyland Group designs. The car named the A, later joined by the 100, was based on the Rover P4 75 with the chassis shortened by 9 inches from 111 inches to 102 inches, the track remaining the same at 52 inches. The suspension was stiffened retaining the coil sprung independent front suspension and elliptical sprung live rear axle. The engine was moved back to allow for the fitting of 2/3 seater open coachwork with the Rover gearbox retained with optional overdrive instead of the Rover free wheel mechanism. The gearchange moved from column to floor. One fixed head coupé was also made. The bodies were made by Richard Mead in his Dorridge works and used some Rover panels. The 6 cylinder, inlet over exhaust valve, 2103 cc Rover engine was slightly modified with higher compression ratio to raise the output by about 5 bhp to 80 bhp whilst the 100 version was bored out to 2392 cc and fitted with triple SU carburettors to give 105 bhp. The A was capable of 90 mph and the 100 100 mph
About 15 cars were made including 2 of the 100s before rising costs and tax changes priced the cars out of the market. Both George Mackie and Peter Wilks rejoined Rover.
