Jackie Stewart racer goes under the hammer

Paul Guinness, Contributor

Sir Jackie Stewart’s first ever race car is being offered for sale via Silverstone Auctions, carrying a high-end estimate of £50,000. Set to go under the hammer at the Silverstone Classic over the weekend of July 26/27, the extremely rare 1960 Marcos GT Xylon is being offered at auction for the first time – and is expected to attract strong bidding from fans of historic motorsport.

Just nine examples of the GT Xylon were built by Marcos, the specialist sports car company founded in 1959 by racing driver Jem Marsh and engineer Frank Costin. This example (G128) is by far the most famous, having been first driven by Stewart in 1960. Scottish racing enthusiast Barry Filer was having his race cars prepared by the Stewart family garage and invited a young Jackie to test with him at Oulton Park.

Following the test, and with G128 fully prepared for the 1961 season, Stewart drove for Filer and – as an obvious sign of things to come – went on to win four of the sports car races he entered. By the following year, Jackie Stewart was turning professional and was racing Jaguars. Meanwhile, G128 continued to race successfully throughout the ’60s under the guidance of Jem Marsh.

The current owner has had the Marcos since 1990s, when he purchased the remains of Marcos Sports Cars, and has had it in storage ever since. The car is now being offered for sale in ‘barn find’ condition, requiring total restoration before its new owner can take it racing once again.

Further details of the Marcos can be found online at www.silverstoneauctions.com.