Francis A. Costin, aviation and racing car designer
1920 Born June 8
Educated at Harrow Weald College.
Joined General Aircraft, Feltham, as fitter
1937 Graduated to Drawing Office
1940 Design Office, Airspeed (Portsmouth), Ltd.
1943 Worked with Supermarine, Ltd.
1946 Project Design Engineer, Percival Aircraft Co, Ltd.
1948 Technical Director, Sanderson and Costin
1951 Aerodynamic Flight Test Engineer in charge of the Experimental Dept., de Havilland Aircraft Co, Ltd. at Christchurch.
1953 Moved to de Havilland Aircraft Co., Ltd., Chester
His brother, Mike Costin, was already working for Lotus when Colin Chapman persuaded Frank to help with the aerodynamic design of racing cars. Designed the body for the Lotus VIII which was successful in 1954.
Responsible for design of many Lotus car bodies - the 1957 Le Mans Maserati coupe and the 1957-58 Vanwall body.
Retained as consultant by Vandervell Products
1958 Chief Designer, Brian Lister (Light Engineering), Ltd, Cambridge
Also designed bodies for TMC
Joined with Jem Marsh to design the Marcos using wood as the main structural material.
1995 Died
See Also
Sources of Information
- Obituary The Times March 15, 1995