The Cars of Frank Costin: TMC Costin

... Sean Thompson interview and Billy Doyle restoration update

May 14, 2024

Frank Costin’s Cars

Today, we're diving into another instalment on the genius of automotive legend Frank Costin with focus on the little known, TMC Costin.

Francis Albert Costin was a British automotive engineer.

He was born on the eighth of June 1920 and passed away on the fifth of February 1995.

Amongst his many engineering achievements, he was renowned for his advanced monocoque chassis designs and for adapting aircraft aeronautical knowledge to automobile use.

Over his career, Frank had a hand in creating many revolutionary designs.

Before becoming an automotive designer, he worked as an engineer with the de Havilland Aircraft Company.

In 1954, he was approached by his younger brother Mike, who was also a former de Havilland engineer.

Mike Costin was working, at that time, for Lotus Engineering Limited and he asked Frank if he would consider applying his knowledge of aerodynamics to building racing cars with Lotus.

Frank did not become a Lotus employee but rather worked as a paid consultant while he designed the body for the Lotus Mark Eight.

In 1956 he was asked by Colin Chapman to design the body for the Formula 1 Vanwall team which went on to win the Grand Prix Constructors’ Championship.

Frank went on to collaborate with Lotus but his relationship with Colin Chapman ended when Frank decided that working as a paid consultant was not a financially remunerative endeavour.

Throughout his career he was also involved in a number of road car projects for various manufacturers including Lister, Lotus, Marcos and Maserati.

Additionally he designed the Costin Amigo, TMC Costin and the Costin Sports Roadster.

In today’s episode we will focus on the remarkable little TMC Costin.

Join us as we explore the history and the legacy of this iconic little car.

About TMC:

The Thompsons of County Wexford, Ireland were a farming family with six sons.

One son, Peter Thompson, embarked on an engineering career with Phillip Pierce and Company in Wexford and later with the Timoney Research Centre.

Eventually two more of the Thompson brothers were hired to work at Timoney:

Val Thompson as a Financial controller, and Sean Thompson as a Design technician.

In March 1983 Peter, Val, and Sean, along with a fourth brother, Anthony, established a new company to build cars, the Thompson Manufacturing Company … (T.M.C.)

Peter Thompson asked engineer and aerodynamicist Frank Costin to design the company's first car, the TMC Costin.

In addition to designing the car itself, Frank Costin was to develop the tooling and jigs needed to build it in exchange for a 10% royalty on each car sold.

Conceptually, the TMC Costin was intended to be an improvement on the Lotus Seven.

The TMC Costin was described as the first road racing car built in Ireland.

Let's jump in and discover the engineering prowess of Frank Costin with Sean Thompson and pay a visit to Billy Doyle’s Shed as he continues with his TMC Costin restoration.

Complete Interview with Sean Thompson …

Part 1 …