I bought a book entitled, SUPERCARS. In this book it lists an independent car manufacturer named Marcos which went out of business in the late 70s but was revived in the 1980s. In the mid-1980s, they began using Ford motors in their Mantis. In particular, they installed the Ford modular 281 ci (4.6 l) engine. Interestingly, they claimed 352 bhp for this engine. Does anyone know what they did to get this much horsepower of the 281?
Anyone heard of the Marcos Mantis (4.6l)?
- Thread starter 01mgvert
- Start date
SilverHorse
New Member
I think those are English? I've not heard of that power claim but I think that the older Marcos cars actually had wood frames!
nickthegenius
Active Member
SilverHorse said:
I think you might be thinking of a Morgan. They are British and had wooden frame components until not too long ago.
Also, the part mentioned from the book sounds odd. The 4.6L didn't come out until the early 90's (91 or 92 IIRC).
BTW, here is a 1971 Marcos Mantis...what a beaut'
Here is some info about the later version. Doesn't look too bad. Uses a Vortech'd 4.6L.
Here's a page with some stats:
http://www.pistonheads.com/fastcars/Marcos.htm
Attachments
From "History of the Marcos" found at http://www.rory.uk.com/Marcos/history_of_marcos_cars.htm
"In 1984 the Mantula Coupe was announced fitted with a 3.5 litre Rover V8, and then in 1986 by the Mantula Spyder. Both versions of the car being updated from time to time the last of these cars using the 200 bhp 3.9 Rover V8 engine up until 1991. "
Not a Ford 4.6 motor during the mid-eighties, which appeared a decade later
"1997 and we see the next evolution of the LM series in the shape of the Mantis, not to be confused with the four seater car of the seventies. The 4.6 quad cam Ford V8 engine developing a full 325 bhp giving the car an acceleration time 0-60 in around 4 seconds powered the new Mantis. The body styling was changed to an all-new aggressive look with huge wheel arches and a massive power bulge to house the new Ford engine."
4.6l 4v motor in the Mantis. The above quoted bhp is what Ford rated the motor at, and the book's writer must have simply transposed the numbers. I wouldn't get worked up about it. All the improvments for the motor are being generated by the Mustang community.
Howerver, without the same pollution controls more aggressive tuning may have been achieved (just in case I'm mistaken)???? Below is a pic and quoted stats from an owners website with the transposed bhp numbers.
(SIC)
PERFORMANCE
Acceleration
0-60mph in 4.1 seconds
Maximum Speed
In excess of 170 mph
(Performance times achieved on test tracks in ideal conditions and NOT the M62 m'lord...)
ENGINE
Type
V8 Quad Cam 4.6 litre 32 valve
Construction
Light alloy block and heads, five bearings
Bore & Stroke
90.2 x 90.0
Displacement
4600cc
Compression Ratio
9.9:1
Valve Gear
Four valves per cylinder, operated by dual overload camshafts, roller tipped rockers, hydraulically adjusted individual timing chains
Max Power
Approx 352 bhp @ 6,000rpm
Max Torque
Approx 330lb ft @ 4,800 rpm
Fuel System
Sequential multipoint fuel injection, staged dual bore throttle body
Fuel
Unleaded only
Ignition
Electronic engine management, twin coils
TRANSMISSION
Gearbox
T45 5 Speed Borg-Warner
Type
Five speed manual gearbox 1st 3.371, 2nd 1.993, 3rd 1.325, 4th 1.000:1, 5th 0.672, Reverse 3.221
Final Drive ratio
3.23:1 LSD
Emissions
Dual three way catalytic converter, EGR
BODY/CHASSIS
Type
Square section tubular steel chassis with glassfibre composite two-door, two seater body, convertible in Spyder
RUNNING GEAR
Steering
2.5 turns lock to lock
Turning Circle
34 feet
Suspension
Front - MacPherson struts and lower link arm. Rear - Independent with upper and lower wishbones, coil springs & adjustable telescopic dampers
Brakes
Front/Rear - Ventilated discs, 4 pot front calipers
Wheels
Front - 3 piece split rim 82 x 18" Rear - 3 piece split rim 9" x 18"
Tyres
Front - 235/40 ZR 18 Rear - 255/35 ZR 18
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
Length 168.00" 4263mm
Width 72.00" 1828mm
Height 40.00" 1016mm
Wheelbase 89.96" 2285mm
Track Front 63.75" 1620mm
Track Rear 61.42" 1560mm
Ground Clearance 4.75" 120mm
Kerb Weight 1078.0 Kgs
Hop
"In 1984 the Mantula Coupe was announced fitted with a 3.5 litre Rover V8, and then in 1986 by the Mantula Spyder. Both versions of the car being updated from time to time the last of these cars using the 200 bhp 3.9 Rover V8 engine up until 1991. "
Not a Ford 4.6 motor during the mid-eighties, which appeared a decade later
"1997 and we see the next evolution of the LM series in the shape of the Mantis, not to be confused with the four seater car of the seventies. The 4.6 quad cam Ford V8 engine developing a full 325 bhp giving the car an acceleration time 0-60 in around 4 seconds powered the new Mantis. The body styling was changed to an all-new aggressive look with huge wheel arches and a massive power bulge to house the new Ford engine."
4.6l 4v motor in the Mantis. The above quoted bhp is what Ford rated the motor at, and the book's writer must have simply transposed the numbers. I wouldn't get worked up about it. All the improvments for the motor are being generated by the Mustang community.
Howerver, without the same pollution controls more aggressive tuning may have been achieved (just in case I'm mistaken)???? Below is a pic and quoted stats from an owners website with the transposed bhp numbers.
(SIC)
PERFORMANCE
Acceleration
0-60mph in 4.1 seconds
Maximum Speed
In excess of 170 mph
(Performance times achieved on test tracks in ideal conditions and NOT the M62 m'lord...)
ENGINE
Type
V8 Quad Cam 4.6 litre 32 valve
Construction
Light alloy block and heads, five bearings
Bore & Stroke
90.2 x 90.0
Displacement
4600cc
Compression Ratio
9.9:1
Valve Gear
Four valves per cylinder, operated by dual overload camshafts, roller tipped rockers, hydraulically adjusted individual timing chains
Max Power
Approx 352 bhp @ 6,000rpm
Max Torque
Approx 330lb ft @ 4,800 rpm
Fuel System
Sequential multipoint fuel injection, staged dual bore throttle body
Fuel
Unleaded only
Ignition
Electronic engine management, twin coils
TRANSMISSION
Gearbox
T45 5 Speed Borg-Warner
Type
Five speed manual gearbox 1st 3.371, 2nd 1.993, 3rd 1.325, 4th 1.000:1, 5th 0.672, Reverse 3.221
Final Drive ratio
3.23:1 LSD
Emissions
Dual three way catalytic converter, EGR
BODY/CHASSIS
Type
Square section tubular steel chassis with glassfibre composite two-door, two seater body, convertible in Spyder
RUNNING GEAR
Steering
2.5 turns lock to lock
Turning Circle
34 feet
Suspension
Front - MacPherson struts and lower link arm. Rear - Independent with upper and lower wishbones, coil springs & adjustable telescopic dampers
Brakes
Front/Rear - Ventilated discs, 4 pot front calipers
Wheels
Front - 3 piece split rim 82 x 18" Rear - 3 piece split rim 9" x 18"
Tyres
Front - 235/40 ZR 18 Rear - 255/35 ZR 18
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
Length 168.00" 4263mm
Width 72.00" 1828mm
Height 40.00" 1016mm
Wheelbase 89.96" 2285mm
Track Front 63.75" 1620mm
Track Rear 61.42" 1560mm
Ground Clearance 4.75" 120mm
Kerb Weight 1078.0 Kgs
Hop
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