Frank Costin

Francis Albert Costin (8 June 1920 – 5 February 1995)[2] was a British automotive engineer who advanced monocoque chassis design and was instrumental in adapting aircraft aerodynamic knowledge for automobile use.

Intrigued by the idea of applying aerodynamics to racing cars, Costin designed the body for the Lotus Mark VIII.

Costin designed the body for the Vanwall that won the first Grand Prix Constructors' Championship.

This led to a lightweight, stiff structure, which he could then clothe with an efficient, aerodynamic body, a huge advantage in the low-capacity sports car racing of the immediate postwar period.

He was also involved in a number of road car projects for various manufacturers including Lister and Lotus, where he contributed to the early aerodynamic designs; Marcos, which he co-founded with Speedex Cars' Jem Marsh (MARsh and COStin); and racecar chassis for Maserati, Lotus, and DTV.