Interview: Ron Costin

Frank Costin had a reputation for innovation and creativity unsurpassed in British motorsport. He brought skills and knowledge from the aviation industry to a wide range of motoring projects and played a major role in the success of the Vanwall Grand Prix car, which won the first Constructor’s World Championship for Britain in 1958. He was responsible for a number of his own cars using novel but superbly strong wooden monocoque chassis. His designs were often years ahead of the opposition, using aviation principles and unusual materials to produce amazing successes in racing cars.

Frank Costin died in 1990, but his son Ron, now 54, remains involved in a number of motorsport projects. He worked for many years as part of the Costin team and currently does engineering work on aviation products and product testing. Ed McDonough recently spoke with him about his and his father’s many projects including this month’s Racecar Profile, the Protos.