The design differed from the Bora in having open
flying butresses at the rear and a slightly different front end. There
was also more room internally due to the reduced length of the engine.
The similar weight, however, meant that the Merak lost some of the outstanding
performance of the Bora.
Basically
a re-engined and slightly restyled Bora, the Merak
(Tipo 122) long outlasted the latter and was built in considerably greater
numbers. The quad cam 3-litre V6 engine and 5 speed manual transmission
were units designed by Maserati for the Citroen SM. Other Citroen influences
were the dashboard and the no-travel braking system (and hydraulically
assisted clutch actuation).
A
2-litre variant, the Merak 2000GT, was also produced for the Italian market
(for tax break reasons) and in 1975 the Merak SS was introduced. This used
a more powerful engine, now with 220bhp and disposed of the Citroen dashboard (replacing it with the Bora unit) and braking system.
Production finally ended in 1983 after 626 Merak,
993 Merak SS and 190 Merak 2000GT examples had been built.
Technical Details
| Engine | 1999cc (80x66.3mm) quad-cam V6 with 159bhp @ 7,100rpm
2970cc (91.6x75mm) quad-cam V6 with 190bhp @ 6,000rpm (later 220bhp @ 5,800rpm) |
| Suspension | front : independent with double wishbones and coil springs plus anti-roll bar
rear : independent with double wishbones and coil springs plus anti-roll bar wheelbase : 2600mm track (front/rear) : 1474mm/1470mm |
| Brakes | discs all round
Citroen hydraulic no-pedal-travel system |
| Transmission | 5 speed manual
single, dry-plate clutch |
| Steering | Rack and pinion |
| Kerb weight | Merak SS : 1,400kg (41% front, 59% rear) |
There is also a list of all our picture galleries (including museums, motorshows and various events).
Buying
Things to check if inspecting a potential purchase :
1. Check the front windscreen for delamination (upper corners)
2. Check for corrosion on the front inner wings/wheelarches (inside the front luggage space), rear edge of front wing (contains boxed section),
door bottoms (are drain holes plugged ?), sills (especially at rear end and fuel tanks within).
3. Check for correct engine, SS has six nuts for the cam-cover, normal engine only five.
4. Check oil pressure, about 7 bar cold and 1-2 warm. 4-5 bar on revving hot engine.
5. Check for exhaust smoke on over-run, vave guides wear.
6. Check for not excessively rattly timing chains.
7. Check gearbox for excessive whine, clutch for slip and second gear synchro for smooth shift.
8. Check the hydropneumatic system by running the engine until the dashboard warning lights goes out. Then raise and lower the headlights (which use
the same system) until they no longer move. They should raise and lower at least six times, otherwise the accumulators need reconditioning.
9. All trim items are difficult/impossible to obtain, so check for completeness.
10. Check that the handbrake is not seized and that the car brakes in a straight line.
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