Merkur XR4Ti Ecoboost

[Wablackwell22]

This thing is amazing. Looks awesome in A51 Blue too.

https://www.motor1.com/news/694622/merkur-xr4ti-restomod-with-ecoboost-engine-swap/

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[Bob902]

That's badass

 

[yamahaSHO]

I saw this car at PRI back in December. Definitely one that caught my eye.

 

[Colo_Ranger]

I have always wanted a Merkur XR4Ti. I knew a guy with one and it would put slam your head back when he hit it. The stock block can handle 30 psi of boost and with a manual trans, the thing is like a rocket. Super fun cars. But... like all cool cars... the prices have skyrocketed.

 

[RangerPNW]

I always thought one of those would be amazing with an ecoboost swapped in it... i actually had a spare 2.0 ecoboost engine that needed a rebuild (got it for dirt cheap), and was either going to build it up for my Focus ST or try and shoehorn it into a Mercur... sadly, or maybe fortunately, neither came to pass haha

 

[9zero1790]

Wow I remember those! I always thought they could be kind cool but they didnt seem to be popular enough to really hit. That one looks sweet. kinda resto mod vibe.

 

[rang19ca]

It would be a monster on an autocross.

 

[9zero1790]

with the power they listed from an eco boost it would be a rice killer for unsuspecting.

 

[LawnMM]

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Decades ago, a friend worked at a Ford dealer and was super excited that they had these in stock - he’d been to a big product knowledge, rah, rah marketing session and was going on and on about their performance capabilities. He was saying how it was a BMW slayer and would take over from the Mustang - yes, he totally drank the Kool-Aid.

I think they had an Escort EXP or SVO and he went on about that too. We took the Merkur out for a test drive but it really didn’t do anything more than you could do in any other car on downtown surface streets, in traffic. Too bad we didn’t take it somewhere where it could stretch its legs.

Anyway, on paper, it looked great but I really didn’t like the styling and couldn’t get over the name. All these years later, that restomod looks pretty awesome.

 

[Rp930]

I had one back in the day. Engine was great Had A Rapido intercooler and more boost. Transmission was the downfall. Sold it and bought an 88 GT.

 

[ControlNode]

I love that they used a Ranger oil pan on it.

I'd love to build a car like that. I didn't realize how cheap the Merkur had gotten, forget getting an SVO with 80s Mustang tax, I should get one of these. And I've actually loved the look of those Merkurs, friend in CO had one back in the early 90s that I really liked. I actually wanted to do an EcoBoost swap anyway. I enjoy doing that same thing. My most successful project on those lines is my 84 Civic 1500S, that I rebuilt as an 84 Civic 2000S after swapping in a stock B20Z from a 99 CR-V. Stock power for about 70hp and now it should be over 146hp. But my next project is the D16Y8 from a 2000 Civic EX into an 86-87 Civic Si, but keeping AC, adding power windows and making it a total modern feel (minus safety) in that old chassis. If it works out well, MPG should be north of 45MPG. The B20Z in the 84 is getting 30MPG and I'm not gentle with it.

 

[MountainGoat]

Man...I wish we could get that 6 speed manual in the Ranger.

 

[9zero1790]

Decades ago, a friend worked at a Ford dealer and was super excited that they had these in stock - he’d been to a big product knowledge, rah, rah marketing session and was going on and on about their performance capabilities. He was saying how it was a BMW slayer and would take over from the Mustang - yes, he totally drank the Kool-Aid.

I think they had an Escort EXP or SVO and he went on about that too. We took the Merkur out for a test drive but it really didn’t do anything more than you could do in any other car on downtown surface streets, in traffic. Too bad we didn’t take it somewhere where it could stretch its legs.

Anyway, on paper, it looked great but I really didn’t like the styling and couldn’t get over the name. All these years later, that restomod looks pretty awesome.

they were close cousins to the escort GT i think. I never owned one but drove one for a week and it was less than thrilling for having a gt label lol.

 

[9zero1790]

Man...I wish we could get that 6 speed manual in the Ranger.

amen!

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