Colchester Racing Developments

Colchester Racing Developments is a British specialist racing-car constructor and engineering business best known for producing Merlyn single-seater and sports racing cars. The company emerged in 1960 under the direction of Clive Maskrey and Selwyn Hayward, initially developing cars for the Formula Junior category. Its early engineering approach included a mid-engined layout for the Merlyn Mark 1, a notable configuration at a time when many competing junior formula cars remained front-engined. Although the first Mark 1 was not raced, later Merlyn designs established the company as a credible small-volume constructor in British club and international formula racing. During the 1960s, Merlyn expanded its range across Formula Junior, Formula Three, Formula Two and sports-car racing. The company’s cars competed against better-known constructors such as Cooper and Brabham, with results varying by category and season. The Mark 4 and Mark 4A sports cars were developed for FIA Appendix C regulations, while the Mark 6 and Mark 7 served sports-car, Formula Three and Formula Two applications. Merlyn cars appeared in events including the Monaco Formula Three Grand Prix, British championships and American SCCA competition. Drivers associated with Merlyn machinery included Jonathan Williams, Chris Irwin, Tony Lanfranchi, Tim Schenken, Emerson Fittipaldi and other future international racers. Merlyn’s most important commercial and sporting opportunity came with the growth of Formula Ford in the late 1960s and 1970s. The Mark 11 and later Formula Ford models became the company’s principal products. Tim Schenken won the BRSCC Formula Ford 1600 championship in a Merlyn during the model’s first competitive period, and the type was subsequently used by drivers in Britain, Brazil, Canada, the United States and elsewhere. A Mark 11A chassis driven for a period by Emerson Fittipaldi became known as the “Magic Merlyn.” Colin Vandervell later used the car to achieve 29 Formula Ford victories and the 1970 BRSCC Formula Ford championship. Jody Scheckter also raced Merlyn cars before progressing to Formula One. The company continued to develop cars for Formula B, Formula Atlantic, Formula F100 and other categories during the 1970s. Merlyn chassis achieved notable individual race and championship results, including success in American club racing and strong finishes in Formula Ford events such as the Formula Ford Festival and Formula Ford Euroseries. However, the marque increasingly faced competition from Lola, Royale, Van Diemen and other constructors. The loss of a major customer and unfavorable sterling-dollar exchange-rate conditions contributed to the decision to stop producing complete racing cars in 1979. After vehicle production ended, Clive Hayward continued the business in the specialist historic-racing sector. CRD Tool and Engineering Ltd manufactured Merlyn parts until it ceased trading in November 2015. Colchester Racing Developments itself has continued to manufacture components for Merlyn cars and undertake chassis repairs. Its current role is therefore primarily that of a marque-support, restoration and specialist engineering operation rather than a producer of new racing-car models.

Colchester Racing Developments began producing Merlyn racing cars in 1960. The company was founded by Clive Maskrey and Selwyn Hayward, with Hayward contributing to the design of the early cars. The first Merlyn, the Mark 1, was a Formula Junior project that was not raced, but it introduced a mid-engined layout that distinguished it from many contemporary junior racing cars. Subsequent Merlyn models entered Formula Junior, Formula Three, Formula Two and sports-car competition in Britain and overseas. Merlyn’s early-1960s range included the Mark 3, Mark 4, Mark 4A, Mark 6 and Mark 7. The Mark 4 sports car was built around FIA Appendix C regulations and could use Ford Anglia or Coventry Climax engines, with different gearbox arrangements for British and international competition. Merlyn cars appeared at the Monaco Formula Three Grand Prix and in British championships. Results included a second-place finish for a Mark 4A in the 1963 Copenhagen Cup and strong performances by Chris Irwin in Formula Two and Formula Three machinery. American competitor Charles Barnes also won the SCCA National Championship Runoffs G Modified class in a Merlyn Mark 6 in 1964. The late 1960s marked a shift toward Formula Ford, which became Merlyn’s most commercially significant category. The Mark 11 was introduced for the new formula and quickly gained attention. Tim Schenken won the BRSCC Formula Ford 1600 championship in a Merlyn, while the company’s cars were also driven by competitors such as Tony Lanfranchi and Emerson Fittipaldi. The Mark 11A chassis later associated with Fittipaldi became known as the “Magic Merlyn.” The Mark 14 was another successful design, performing well in both Formula Three and Formula Ford. Colin Vandervell drove the former Fittipaldi car to 29 Formula Ford wins and the 1970 BRSCC championship. In the 1970s the business developed or supplied cars for Formula B, Formula Atlantic, Formula F100, Formula Two, Formula Three and Formula Ford. Merlyn cars were exported to the United States, Brazil and Canada, and were used by racing schools and private entrants as well as factory-supported teams. The marque achieved isolated victories and high championship placings, including success for Gordon Smiley in an American Formula B/C event and strong results in the Formula Ford Festival and Formula Ford Euroseries. Merlyn’s complete-car production ended in 1979. The company faced increasingly strong competition from Lola, Royale, Van Diemen and other specialist constructors. The loss of a major customer and unfavorable currency conditions affecting sales in the United States were cited among the factors behind the closure of race-car manufacturing. Clive Hayward subsequently continued to support the marque through component production and repair work. CRD Tool and Engineering Ltd supplied Merlyn parts until it stopped trading in November 2015, while Colchester Racing Developments continued to make components and repair Merlyn chassis for historic racing and preservation.

• 2015

  CRD Tool and Engineering ceases trading

  [1]Colchester Racing Developmentsen.wikipedia.org

  CRD Tool and Engineering Ltd, which had produced Merlyn parts, stopped trading in November.

• 1979

  Complete racing-car production ends

  [1]Colchester Racing Developmentsen.wikipedia.org

  Colchester Racing Developments stopped producing complete racing cars after commercial and competitive pressures, including the loss of a major customer and unfavorable dollar-pound exchange rates.

• 1973

  Merlyn one-two in Formula Ford Euroseries

  [1]Colchester Racing Developmentsen.wikipedia.org

  Bengt Gilhorn and Hans Binder finished first and second respectively in the Formula Ford Euroseries in Merlyn chassis.

• 1972

  American Formula B victory

  [1]Colchester Racing Developmentsen.wikipedia.org

  Gordon Smiley won a Formula B/C race at Road Atlanta in a Merlyn Mark 21 and finished fifth in the championship standings.

• 1970

  Magic Merlyn wins Formula Ford championship

  [1]Colchester Racing Developmentsen.wikipedia.org

  Colin Vandervell drove the former Emerson Fittipaldi-associated Merlyn to 29 Formula Ford victories and the BRSCC Formula Ford championship.

• 1968

  Formula Ford championship success

  [1]Colchester Racing Developmentsen.wikipedia.org

  Tim Schenken won the BRSCC Formula Ford 1600 championship in a Merlyn, while Tony Lanfranchi finished second in the BRSCC Formula Three championship.

• 1967

  Mark 11 introduced

  [1]Colchester Racing Developmentsen.wikipedia.org

  The Mark 11 became a prominent Merlyn design as Formula Ford expanded, helping establish the marque in entry-level single-seater racing.

• 1964

  Expansion into Formula Two and Formula Three

  [1]Colchester Racing Developmentsen.wikipedia.org

  The Mark 6 sports car and Mark 7 Formula Two and Formula Three cars entered competition. Chris Irwin recorded significant results in Merlyn single-seaters, while Charles Barnes won the SCCA National Championship Runoffs G Modified class in a Mark 6.

• 1962

  First Merlyn appearance at Monaco Formula Three

  [1]Colchester Racing Developmentsen.wikipedia.org

  Merlyn entered the Monaco Formula Three Grand Prix, with Jonathan Williams finishing fifth in a prototype Mark 5.

• 1960

  Company established and first Merlyn developed

  [1]Colchester Racing Developmentsen.wikipedia.org

  Clive Maskrey and Selwyn Hayward founded Colchester Racing Developments and developed the mid-engined Merlyn Mark 1 Formula Junior car.

A specialist British constructor and engineering provider focused on lightweight racing cars, historic Merlyn competition vehicles, replacement parts and chassis support.

• Formula Junior racing car · 1960

  Merlyn Mark 1

  The first Merlyn design, created for Formula Junior. It was notable for its mid-engined configuration, although the prototype was never raced. The car established the basic engineering identity of the Merlyn marque and preceded the more successful competition models developed during the 1960s.

• Sports racing car · 1963

  Merlyn Mark 4 and Mark 4A

  Sports cars designed to comply with FIA Appendix C regulations. They could be configured with Ford Anglia or Coventry Climax engines and used different transmission arrangements depending on whether they were intended for British or international competition. The Mark 4A achieved a second-place result in the 1963 Copenhagen Cup.

• Sports racing car · 1964

  Merlyn Mark 6

  An improved sports-car design that also appeared in Group 7 competition. The model achieved several top-ten results in British sports-car racing and won the SCCA National Championship Runoffs G Modified class in 1964 with Charles Barnes.

• Formula Two and Formula Three racing car · 1964

  Merlyn Mark 7

  A single-seater produced in both Formula Two and Formula Three forms. Eleven examples were built. The Mark 7 represented Merlyn’s effort to compete in categories increasingly replacing Formula Junior and was later followed by the improved Mark 9.

• Formula Ford racing car · 1967

  Merlyn Mark 11 and Mark 11A

  Merlyn’s best-known Formula Ford family. The cars became popular with private entrants and professional drivers in Britain and overseas. Tim Schenken won the BRSCC Formula Ford 1600 championship in a Mark 11, while a Mark 11A driven for a period by Emerson Fittipaldi became known as the “Magic Merlyn.”

• Formula Three and Formula Ford racing car · 1969

  Merlyn Mark 14

  A successful late-1960s single-seater that was competitive in both Formula Three and Formula Ford. Its results were strengthened by drivers including Emerson Fittipaldi, and the model ranked near the front of both categories during 1969 and 1970.

• Formula B racing car · 1970

  Merlyn Mark 15

  A 1970 design developed for Formula B competition in the United States. It formed part of Merlyn’s effort to serve overseas markets and American club-racing categories alongside its principal Formula Ford business.

• Formula F100 sports racing car · 1970

  Merlyn Mark 16

  An inexpensive sports-racing car created for the short-lived Formula F100 category. It used a 1.3-litre Ford Escort engine. The category survived for only a few seasons, limiting the model’s long-term competition role.

• Formula Ford and Formula Atlantic racing cars · 1971

  Merlyn Mark 20, Mark 21 and Mark 23

  A group of 1970s Merlyn single-seaters used in Formula Ford, Formula B and Formula Atlantic-related competition. Mark 20 cars won championship events, a Mark 21 was used by Gordon Smiley in American Formula B/C racing, and a typical Mark 23 could be supplied with engine and transmission or as a bare chassis.

• Motorsport engineering services

  Merlyn components and chassis repairs

  After complete-car production ended, Colchester Racing Developments continued supporting existing Merlyn vehicles through replacement components and chassis repairs. This work serves historic-racing competitors, collectors and owners preserving surviving Merlyn cars.

• 1979

  Withdrawal from complete racing-car productionStrategy

  Background

  Merlyn faced stronger competition from constructors including Lola, Royale and Van Diemen. The business also lost a major customer and was affected by unfavorable dollar-pound exchange-rate conditions.

  Action taken

  Colchester Racing Developments ended the manufacture of complete racing cars.

  Aftermath

  The business shifted toward supplying components and repairing Merlyn chassis, a specialist support role that continued after the separate CRD Tool and Engineering company ceased trading.

  Source

• 1967

  Emphasis on Formula FordStrategy

  Background

  Formula Ford was emerging as an important low-cost single-seater category, while Formula Two and Formula Three competition was becoming more difficult for small constructors.

  Action taken

  Merlyn introduced and promoted the Mark 11 for Formula Ford, making the category a central part of its racing-car business.

  Aftermath

  The Mark 11 family became one of the marque’s most successful and widely used product lines, with championship results in Britain and use in overseas racing.

  Source

1. 1Colchester Racing Developmentsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Official Merlyn race team and build specialistsmerlyncars.com