The Marlin 5EXi was a complete change of direction for a company known for retro roadsters. Instead of a traditional front-engined two-seater, it was a modern mid-engined sports car on a space frame, offered with a choice of Honda, Rover or Audi engines and sold as a kit or fully built.
Marlin 5EXi at a glance
| Maker | Marlin Sportscars, Crediton, Devon |
|---|---|
| Layout | mid-engined, two-seat |
| Chassis | space frame |
| Body | glass fibre panels |
| Engines | Honda Civic, Rover K-series or Audi 1.8T |
| Form | kit or fully built |
| Build time | about 120 hours, claimed by the factory |
| Design | a break from the retro Roadster line |
Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on Marlin Sportscars, which describes the 5EXi in a short section. There is no separate article on the model.
History of the Marlin 5EXi
A new direction
As a complete change from the retro looks of the previous models, the 5EXi is a modern two-seat, mid-engined sports car. The car is built up around a space frame on which glass fibre body panels are fastened, a construction that suits small-scale production and home assembly better than a steel monocoque.
Engines and build
The 5EXi used Honda Civic, Rover K-series or Audi 1.8T engines, so the builder could choose between a free-revving Japanese four, the familiar Rover K-series or a turbocharged Audi unit. It was available as a kit or fully built, and the factory claimed that the kit could be assembled in around 120 hours.
The company behind it
Marlin was founded in 1979 in Plymouth as Marlin Engineering by Paul Moorhouse, and the 5EXi was built while the company was based in Crediton, Devon. In 2016 Marlin bought Avatar Sports Cars primarily to build roadsters. As of May 2019 Marlin Sports Cars had ceased trading and the company was for sale with no further production planned; in April 2021 Kevin Richardson bought it.
Design and features
- Mid engine: the engine sits behind the driver, the first Marlin laid out this way.
- Space frame: a simple frame with glass fibre panels, well suited to kit production.
- Engine choice: Honda Civic, Rover K-series or Audi 1.8T, from naturally aspirated to turbocharged.
- Quick build claim: about 120 hours to assemble the kit, according to the factory.
- Kit or finished car: sold either way, like the rest of the Marlin range.
Marlin 5EXi versions
- Honda Civic-engined cars: the Japanese four-cylinder option.
- Rover K-series cars: the British engine option.
- Audi 1.8T cars: the turbocharged option.
- Kit and factory-built cars: the same car supplied in two forms.
The 5EXi was the modern counterpoint to the Roadster and the Sportster, which kept the traditional front-engined layout. More Marlin cars are in the Marlin collection.
Video: GoPro test: Marlin 5EXi with Seat 1.8 turbo
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Marlin Sportscars, English Wikipedia: layout, engines, build time, company history
