Fantasy Junction

Description

1965 Fournier-Marcadier Barquette

Chassis No. – 241
Exterior Color – Blue
Interior Color – Black
Engine – 1.6-liter Renault Gordini inline four cylinder
Transmission – Renault 5-speed full-synchromesh
Current Miles – Racecar miles unknown

History of Fournier-Marcadier

Having enjoyed the growth of his successful aluminum-framed bicycle business Lyonnais Andre Marcadier advanced to competition motorcycles and racing carts. By the early 1960s Marcadier engaged in a fateful meeting with Colin Chapman who had begun making quite a name for himself in motorsports with the Lotus brand. Deciding that France needed representation in this same area, Marcadier sought out the body fabrication skills of Marcel Fournier. In an effort to build an affordable race car, they determined it would be best to offer these in kit form, a first for a car of this type in France. The first car was delivered in 1963. Following closely to the Lotus 23 design and layout, the car was assembled with a tubular steel chassis, mid-engine configuration, with many components supplied by Renault. The Renault 8 offered a complete suspension with power provided by an in-line four-cylinder Renault-Gordini engine mated to Renault 5-speed, in reverse orientation from the original Renault 8 layout. The ultra-low-profile body was fabricated using lightweight fiberglass body panels (total weight just under 1,200 lbs.), while the tubular steel chassis, disc brakes, independent suspension, staggered width wheels, and optimal weight distribution resulted in remarkable performance and handling.

The finished cars were quite popular at the time with approximately 60 examples sold during the 1963-1966 production period, many of which competed in the Sport-Auto magazine championship organized specifically for these cars. Eventually the company advanced their efforts, closed out production, and moved into single seat cars, Can-Am sports-racers, and other enterprises solely under the Marcadier moniker after the 1970 retirement of Fournier.

History of this Fournier-Marcadier Barquette

This car was previously owned and raced by former Fournier-Marcadier factory driver Rodger Kohen, who raced the car in the 1970s. By the 1990s, it was imported to the US. Logbooks accompanying the car indicate races in the 1990s including events in the Las Vegas area. In 1993, this car was sold at auction and brought to Vancouver, BC where it was stored until April 2013 and subsequently purchased by Ian Wood, Vancouver, BC. Under his ownership, the car was extensively freshened including rebuilding of the Renault-Gordini 1600cc racing engine outfitted with Dual 45 DCOE Weber carburetors, factory racing camshaft, and a flow benched, cross flow, cylinder head with custom Carrillo pistons and connecting rods. The 10:1 compression engine was blueprinted and balanced with dyno tuning performed to achieve an impressive 167hp. The pushrod hemi chambered engine favors race fuel but is still capable of running 97 octane pump gas. During the process of preparing the car for racing, the 10” four-wheel disc brakes were serviced including rebuilt Renault calipers and servicing for the dual Girling master cylinders with bias adjustment. An on-board Simpson Fire System was installed along with a 6.5-gallon Fuel Safe Fuel Cell with a new fuel pump, gauge, and fuel regulator. The car is equipped with Hella quartz iodine headlights and street running lights with turn signals and brake lights. The car wears a set of highly favored and very strong billet wheels directly patterned from the original 13” x 6” front and 13” x 8” rear Fourier-Marcadier hub 3-piece wheels.

This Barquette was accepted for racing at the General Racing’s Sonoma Historics in May but was not ready to run. By July it competed at Seattle Pacific Raceways Historics finishing three races including the 30-minute feature USAC race. The best recorded lap time at this event was 1:33. The car ran four races in August at Mission Raceway Park, BC Canada, where it recorded a best lap time of 1:16.9. In September 2023, this car returned from a successful racing weekend where it completed three races at the 2023 CSRG Charity Challenge at Sonoma Raceway, CA (September) with a best lap time of 1:55.9.

Current Condition

Today this Fournier-Marcadier presents as an enjoyably driven vintage race car with mechanical integrity and exterior cosmetics consistent with ongoing track use since the cosmetic restoration was completed some years ago. The blue paint and broad central white stripe create a striking visual statement. The fiberglass body panels exhibit generally good fit and finish throughout the extremely low body lines. A clear plexiglass windscreen blends into the door sections with side protection also serving as effective aerodynamic surfaces for airflow. The unique staggered width Fournier-Marcadier cast wheels are currently shod with Michelin race tires. Competition touches include clear plexiglass covered headlights, properly braced roll bar with various tech and event stickers, small front canards, and a substantial frontal area warm air extractor – surprisingly advanced for the period.

The clean and well-presented lines of the exterior properly envelopes a very basic race car interior. The cockpit is tidy and outfitted with typical though contemporary instrumentation, molded seat tubs, and competition five-point harness with seat belts dated to December 2025. The interior delivers a purposeful no-frills, ready for action presentation, in keeping with the owner’s desire to race the car. Cohesively prepared and properly set up for racing, this Barquette has a visual engaging presence backed by recent mechanical freshening and years of successful participation in vintage events.

Raising the front section of the car, the simplicity and effectiveness of Renault independent suspension, tubular frame, and general construction are impressive especially when considering the period and limited resources assembled at the time of construction. Interesting details are further evident in the rear portion of the car where the race-prep Gordini hemi-head engine breathes through twin dual throat 45 DCOE Weber carburetors exiting a tuned bundle-of-snakes exhaust and small muffler nestled under the rear body panel. The underside reveals further details of the lightweight construction and componentry consistent with the known history and vintage racing event participation since the 1990s.

This Fournier-Marcadier Barquette presents an excellent opportunity to acquire a rare example of a professionally prepared racecar, poised for its next historic event. Vintage race cars offer significant opportunities for enthusiasts, often with daunting costs of entry. This is a well-prepared and unique car that will not rob the pocketbook of a racing enthusiast. Sure to delight the next owner this car is ready to participate in events, historic racing, while the next owner can also enjoy the benefits of a supportive technical community of like-minded enthusiasts preserving these rare and exciting Gordini powered racers.

Although this car has been recently prepared for racing and participated in racing events this year, we highly recommend a professional shop with racing car prep history inspect this car and properly prepare it before use in a competition setting.

Spares Included with this Car

This Barquette is accompanied by selected receipts for mechanical work, race result sheets from various recent races, two full folders of technical information, the current ASN/FIA CACC logbook, the race logbook from the 1990s and the following spare parts:

1 cylinder head (damaged)
1 engine gasket set
1 straight exhaust pipe
4 used wet cylinder liners
4 new pistons with wrist pins
1 good used water pump
1 new timing chain
1 new rear main seal
1 used dash panel
3 sets new brake pads
2 sets good brake pads
2 full folders of technical information
Current ASN/FIA CACC logbook
Racing logbook from the 1990s

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

Inquire About This Car

Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608