1995 Maula Merna
A super-tuned version of the Erin Merna Mk 5 that consisted of a slightly detuned version of the 2.0l i4 engine from the BTCC touring version, fibre glass body panels, massive wheels and roll cage in the back.
It came into existence after a tuning company-come-race team got their hands on a normal Merna and started messing around with it. Having lightened it and tuned the standard 1.6l engine to the max, the got in contact with Erin in late 1994 to see if they could get a deal to build versions of the 2.0l Touring Car engine that powered the BTCC version, as well as a license to build aftermarker fibreglass body panels. After some negotiating, a deal was made, and Maula setup a small production line in their warehouse in Exhall, Coventry, to convert Merna’s into these tuned versions on request from customers.
The car was mad, and totally unsuited to the road. As a track car, however, it was about as close as you could get to owning your own race car. Very fast, very sharp and very uncomfortable, it could easily compete with actual race versions of the Merna. On the downside, the massive weight saving and fibreglass body panels made it very noisy. But that wasn’t why you bought one of these anyway.
52 were made in total. between 1995 and 1999.
Stats
Engine: 2.0l i4 with race-grade parts and race exhaust
280 hp, 8400 rpm redline, dreadful reliability
Modifications:
- Body panels replaced with fibreglas replacements
- Interior stripped out, two bucket seats fitted with 3 point harness as standard and roll cage
- Aero body kit with front and rear spoiler
- 20" , 195mm rims
- 6 speed race transmission with geared LSD
- Race suspension parts with race tune
0-60: 5.1 Seconds, Top speed: 163 mph
Weight down to just 905kg
ATT Laptime: 2:15.17