Mercury Roush Capri Racing Car 1984

[StarLight]

StarLight Garage presents another classic racing car, the mighty Mercury Roush Capri from 1984.
A powerful racing car for it's time with 800 wild ponies.
From this car there are many liveries of course but I like this one in particular.

The story begins ahead of the 1984 season, Ford enlisted the services of Jack Roush to construct and campaign a Mercury Capri in the SCCA Trans-Am Championship. Very much an engine specialist, Roush called in the help of Bill Riley and Gary Pratt, who had recently partnered to form Protofab, to construct the purpose-built chassis.

Very much a silhouette formula, the Trans-Am cars of the 1980s only resembled the road cars they were based on from a distance. Under the broad fibreglass body, the Roush Capri featured a steel tubular frame with all-round independent suspension, provided by Protofab. Roush focused his efforts on the highly tuned naturally aspirated Ford V8. Despite breathing through a single carburettor, the engine was good for at least 650 bhp and as much as 800 bhp later in its career.

Although facing seemingly more sophisticated turbocharged rivals, the Mercury Roush Capri proved hugely successful, winning 12 of the 18 Trans-Am races during its debut season. Tom Gloy was the first 'Ford' driver to be crowned champion since 1970. Towards the end of the year, Roush also created a Mustang bodied version, built to the nearly identical GTO specification. It was raced in the IMSA season finale at Daytona, scoring a debut victory.

During the following season, Roush fielded the Capri in Trans-Am and the Mustang in IMSA GTO. The two cars were so closely related that the same chassis was raced as a Capri one week and a Mustang a week later. It was another hugely successful season for the team, clinching both championships. For 1986, Roush switched to the Mercury Merkur for Trans-Am, while the Mustang continued to dominate the IMSA GTO class.


Specifications
Country of origin: United States
Produced in: 1984
Designed by: Bill Riley and Gary Pratt for Protofab

Engine
Configuration: Ford / Roush 90º V8
Location Front: Longitudinally mounted
Displacement: 5.868 liter / 358.1 cu in
Valvetrain: 2 valves / cylinder, OHV
Fuel feed: Holley Carburettor
Lubrication: Dry sump
Aspiration: Naturally Aspirated
Power: 650 bhp / 485 KW (later upgraded to 800 bhp)
BHP/Liter: 111 bhp / liter

Drivetrain
Body: Fibreglass
Chassis: Steel tubular spaceframe
Suspension front & rear: Double wishbones, coil springs over dampers, anti-roll bar
Steering: Rack-and-pinion
Brakes: Ventilated discs, all-round
Gearbox: Weismann 5 speed Manual
Drive: Rear Wheel Drive

THE OTHER ROUCH IS HERE:

 

[cbarbosa]

Capri + Roush?! Oh boy...

Voted! 👍

 

[Monatsende]

Capri + Roush?! Oh boy...

Voted! 👍

Nothing more to say. Instant vote. 👍

 

[GTPorsche]

This Capri is just a renamed Mustang. Nothing like the Euro Ford Capri.

 

[CostasDrifter]

How could I not vote this...?

 

[CostasDrifter]

Engine bay details...

 

[StarLight]

Engine bay details...

Thanks for the enrichment ... always appreciated.

 

[JKgo]

For 1986, Roush switched to the Mercury Merkur for Trans-Am

Merkur? Now that brings back memories. Voted cuz it's a Roush, even tho' I don't particularly find this car all that interesting. BTW, if I remember correctly, isn't merkur German for "mercury"? so Roush raced a Mercury Mercury?
1986 Merkur was a "new" brand created by then-president of Ford Europe Bob Lutz who wanted to sell European fast Fords in America. So they took a Sierra XR4, heavily re-worked it, gave to Kamann for manufacture, and sold 'em through Mercury dealers. Was on sale for about 4 years. I think maybe 40000 - 50000 Merkur Sierra XR4ti were sold in US during this time. It had a turbo 4, not a V6, made 175 horses, and were compared favorably to BMWs of the time. I could make a thread for it, but I'm too lazy....

 

[StarLight]

Merkur? Now that brings back memories. Voted cuz it's a Roush, even tho' I don't particularly find this car all that interesting. BTW, if I remember correctly, isn't merkur German for "mercury"? so Roush raced a Mercury Mercury?
1986 Merkur was a "new" brand created by then-president of Ford Europe Bob Lutz who wanted to sell European fast Fords in America. So they took a Sierra XR4, heavily re-worked it, gave to Kamann for manufacture, and sold 'em through Mercury dealers. Was on sale for about 4 years. I think maybe 40000 - 50000 Merkur Sierra XR4ti were sold in US during this time. It had a turbo 4, not a V6, made 175 horses, and were compared favorably to BMWs of the time. I could make a thread for it, but I'm too lazy....

Thanks for additional information, this car is from 1984, the first Sierra was also from 1984/85 and like you say Merkur was founded in 1986. As far as I know this car was called Mercury and not Merkur.
Thanks for voting too.


What about the other Roush, the Mustang?

 

[JKgo]

Thanks for additional information, this car is from 1984, the first Sierra was also from 1984/85 and like you say Merkur was founded in 1986. As far as I know this car was called Mercury and not Merkur.
Thanks for voting too.


What about the other Roush, the Mustang?

Hey no prob. What other Roush Mustang?? Is there a thread for it?? Can you find me a link? Thanks.

 

[StarLight]

Hey no prob. What other Roush Mustang?? Is there a thread for it?? Can you find me a link? Thanks.

In the OP (here above) you find a picture of the car underneath.
Thanks for visiting.

 

[05XR8]

The Thunderbird as well

Who could forget Willy T. Ribbs?

 

[RandomCarGuy17]

Ah another IMSA car and it's a Ford MoCo IMSA car, of course I'll vote for it.

For 1986, Roush switched to the Mercury Merkur for Trans-Am

Um, one correction that needs to be made; Merkur isn't a Mercury model. "Merkur" was it's own brand that Ford of US made in the mid-80s to use for the German Fords they were importing here in the US for that period of time.

 

[GTPorsche]

This title.