Vehicle Description
To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' Auburn
Fall event, 30 August - 2 September 2018.
Estimate:
$20,000 - $30,000
Offered from a private collectionOne of only two Mk 8s produced,
with mid-mounted V-8 enginesSingle-family ownership since 1989;
unseen in public for nearly 30 yearsOriginal owner William �Bill'
Fuller; current owner acquired from Jeff KramerFascinating build
and historical documentation from 1964-1965Mid-mounted Chevrolet
327-cu. in. OHV V-8 with Weber carburetors, Huffaker four-speed
transaxle, and Halibrand quick-change rear axle
The Merlyn racing car was the product of Colchester Racing
Developments, established in 1960. Through the 1960s the company
produced numerous interesting racing models, often around Coventry
Climax, Ford, or Chevrolet V-8 engines, that competed in various
classes of racing on both sides of the Atlantic. Their designs grew
increasingly more audacious over time, with more and more
componentry produced in-house at the CRD factory.
The Mk 8 of 1965 was a large two-seat racing car, with a
mid-mounted 327-cu. in. Chevrolet V-8 engine. Only two examples
were produced.
This particular car was built for William "Bill" Fuller of Oakdale,
California, as documented by fascinating original build
documentation, which is on file. Mr. Fuller wrote Merlyn inquiring
"if you are coming up with anything larger than the Mark VI or
something that will be competitive with the new Lotus 30 or do you
have anything in mind that will be capable of handling a Ford or
Chevrolet engine. Actually, my choice would be Chevrolet . . .
"
S.H. Hayward, one of the principles of the firm, wrote back that
"we are at this moment building a batch of sports cars to be fitted
with the 4.7 Ford V-8 engine. These cars should be entirely
suitable for any other type of American V-8 unit and the first one
should be available in approximately six weeks. The car is only
slightly larger than our existing Mark 6 and we are confident will
prove entirely satisfactory and compete favourably with the
products of other British manufacturers."
Construction was to be of fiberglass on a space-frame chassis with
stressed aluminum panels, independent rear suspension by lower and
upper wishbones, independent front suspension by unequal-length
plated wishbones with coil springs and Armstrong telescopic
dampers, and roll bars front and rear, as well as four-wheel
Girling hydraulic disc brakes and rack-and-pinion steering. A
Chevrolet engine was dispatched to Colchester Racing Developments
so that the car could be tested around it, before shipment to the
U.S. Further, modifications were made to the rear of the body, in
which it was routed around the exhaust, in the fashion of a
Chaparral that Mr. Fuller had admired.
The car was completed in the spring of 1965, and delivered to Mr.
Fuller aboard SS Spreestein in August. Vintage photographs in the
file show what appears to be the Merlyn running in SCCA competition
at Green Valley Raceway in Smithfield, Texas, in 1966, carrying
number 1. Interestingly, Mr. Fuller appears to have continued to
compete with the car, running a Chevrolet 327 V-8 as intended, well
into the 1980s, as receipts are on file for repairs to the rear
body panels and installation of a rollbar in 1985.
The current owner acquired the car from Jeff Kramer in 1989, via
Dallas Motorsport, and proceeded to have their shop restore it to
the present appearance, in his own choice of livery and with a
Huffaker four-speed racing transaxle. It is otherwise very much to
its original configuration and "as raced" by Mr. Fuller, including
the wheels that he specified for it in his conversations with
Colchester Racing Developments in the early 1960s.
Among sports-racers of its era, this fascinating car boasts a
wonderful story and superior documentation - and combines the best
of European and American engineering in one fearsome package.
Please note that this lot is offered on a Bill of Sale.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction,
please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/AF18.
