The car remained in South Africa for 15 years following the restoration, returning to the UK with Spiers in 1997.
While he admits that further work is on the cards, the car is still delightfully appealing.
It retains its original registration number and the flowing steel wings give real presence, while the three flexible exhaust sections that emerge from the engine cover add purpose.
The leather-trimmed 2+2 cockpit is simple but roomier than expected, while performance feels strong with the torquey straight-six enabling Sussex hills to be dispatched in top gear with ease.
The low ’screen, swooping arches and V-shaped grille add to the Marendaz 15/90’s sporty look
According to Spiers, the car is a capable 70mph cruiser, in part thanks to the long-legged ratios of the ENV gearbox.
Semi-elliptic springs up front and cantilever items aft provide a firm but well-controlled ride over typical B-roads, while braking is courtesy of Lockheed hydraulics all round.
The latter is unusual for the period, and Marendaz is said to have claimed they were a first on a British car, something that others would refute.
It’s a fascinating machine to spend time with, and it’s hard not to reflect on what might have been.
The roll-call of British manufacturers that have disappeared without trace is a long one, but such depth of engineering and quality means that this one shouldn’t really have been among them.
And yet without Donald Marcus Kelway Marendaz, we wouldn’t have had such an intriguing story to reflect upon.
Images: Tony Baker
Thanks to: Graham Skillen from the Register of Marendaz Special Cars, plus owners Peter Spiers, Dick Hodges and Peter Arney
This was first in our January 2017 magazine; all information was correct at the date of original publication
Marendaz mavens
Dedicated specialists help to keep the Marendaz story alive
Dick Hodges: 17/90
Hodges has owned his 1932 Marendaz since 2005, and it all came about by accident.
“A friend sent me an email that was intended for someone else,” he remembers, “and it showed pictures of a car that I had never seen before.
“After carrying out a bit of research about Marendaz, the idea of owning it appealed but the car went to auction in Yorkshire.
“I managed to secure it with one final bid. It was a bit of a wreck, but it was towed straight to Hightone Restorations in Oxfordshire.”
It was a major undertaking, with YY 8383 requiring fresh aluminium panels, a new ash frame and a rebuild of the Continental engine.
The throttle was moved to the right, the seat mountings were extended for more legroom, and a secondary electric fan was fitted.
“It took a lot of research to source original components,” says Hodges, “but the various modifications make the car much more usable.
“I enjoy owning something so unusual and the Marendaz story itself is fascinating.”
The Marendaz 13/70 is fitted with a sidevalve straight-six ‘Continental’ engine © T Arney/OneSum
Peter Arney: 13/70
“The fact that it’s very pretty, underrated, and interestingly rare is what attracted me to the Marendaz,” says Arney.
“It’s nice to have a four-seater so I can cram the children in, and the big, torquey engine makes it very usable.”
He’s owned his 13/70 for 15 years, and it’s an example that has required plenty of work to bring it up to scratch: “It looked good when I bought it, but lack of use meant various aspects needed attention.
“It had been fitted with a Vauxhall engine at one point, but the correct Erskine Continental unit was present.
“It benefited from the addition of the revised cylinder head developed by marque specialist John Shaw.
“That cured the overheating, but sorting the seized brakes, overhauling the suspension, and having new halfshafts made added to the work.
“It’s taken time to get it right – as with many old cars, as you do one job another repair is needed – but having Riley specialist Keith Pointing looking after it has helped me keep on top of any problems.”
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