Classic image – Rory MacMath (centre) flanked by Chris Marsh (left) and Jem Marsh

This month sees the official retirement of Rory MacMath, who is the longest-serving Marcos employee, racking up over 55 years with the marque.

Rory’s career with Marcos started in 1968 as an engineer at the Greenland Mills factory in Bradford-on-Avon, producing five to six wooden chassis’d cars a week.

Marcos moved to its new premises on the Westbury Trading Estate in 1969 and Rory was involved in developing the new metal chassis and running the service department, looking after many loyal Marcos customers including some very famous owners such as Rod Stewart, Sam Wanamaker and John Noakes from Blue Peter fame to name a few.

The company fell on bad times during the early seventies as a result of the American market falling through, purchase tax being introduced, the cost of developing the Mantis M70 and the move to Westbury. A receiver was appointed and Rory and Jem were the last of the employees to leave. Rory then went on to work with the new owners, the Rob Walker Group based at Corsley, where he continued to run the new service department looking after Marcos customers.

After a year or so, Rory left the Rob Walker Group and went back to work with Jem Marsh on a new venture, Jem Marsh Performance Cars, selling and servicing and looking after all things Marcos. This went on for many years, continuing to support Marcos owners worldwide with spares and servicing.

Happy retirement to Rory MacMath

Jem had the opportunity to buy back the assets of the old company and in 1979 the Marcos 3-litre was relaunched in kit form. Rory built a brand-new car for the 1982 Earls Court Motor Show which was a huge success with the press and national television. The company went from strength to strength.

The eighties saw Marcos using the Rover V8 engine, which Rory developed and this engine was used on many Marcos models through to 1998.

Rory decided to part ways with the Marcos company in Westbury in 1992 and set up a company acquiring and selling Land Rover parts.

In November 1997, Rory moved to new premises in Semington and purchased Marcos Heritage Spares from David Methley which continues to this day to look after customers worldwide.

The year 2000 saw the administration of the old Marcos company and Marcos Heritage secured the future by buying all of the assets, which included moulds, tooling and jigs going back, in some cases, to 1960.

In 2021, Marcos Heritage was purchased by Page Automotive a company stretching its roots back as far as 1906. The company is headed up by Howard Nash who has bold plans for the marque while honouring the heritage of Marcos.

Rory’s retirement has been marked by the passing to manager Nick Kleiff, who has over 40 years experience in the vintage and classic car industry, with Emily and James MacMath providing continuity, knowledge and loyalty to the company.

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Rory for many years and he will be missed by the Marcos community, customers, owners and suppliers alike and we wish him well in his retirement.

For more information call 01380 871 717 or visit www.marcosheritage.com ENDS.