Costin [1] (United Kingdom)

Costin Automotive Racing Products Ltd was a British automotive manufacturer founded by Frank Costin, an aircraft aerodynamicist who transitioned into automotive engineering. The company operated from 1970 to 1972, with its headquarters located in Little Staughton, Bedfordshire. Costin was well-known for his contributions to various racing car projects and collaborations with brands such as Lotus, Vanwall, and Marcos.

The primary product of Costin Automotive was the Costin Amigo, a sports car that represented an ambitious endeavor by Costin to create a vehicle under his own name. The Amigo was developed at Costin's base in North Wales, with production taking place at an aerodrome and later at a more modern factory near Luton. The car utilized mechanical components sourced from the nearby Vauxhall, specifically the 2.3-litre engine and modified suspension from the VX4/90 model.

The chassis of the Costin Amigo featured an evolution of Costin's signature plywood monocoque design, incorporating a wooden rear end structure and aerodynamically shaped fiberglass body panels. The vehicle was noted for its strength, handling balance, and performance, achieving a top speed of 135 mph (217 km/h) and accelerating from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 7.2 seconds. However, its high price of £3,326 limited its market appeal, resulting in the production of only seven units. One of these cars participated in the 1971 Isle of Man TT. Following the Amigo, Frank Costin's name was associated with the T.M.C. Costin sports car and an unsuccessful single-seater commuter car project in Wales.