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Merciel Archives: Merciel Deluxe

First of a Kind (1951 Merciel De Luxe)

Backstory

In 1949, Merciel would release the Modèle '49, a car well renown for its reliability and dependability. However, it was not the car that CEO Jean-Claude Affré was promised. Affré wanted a compact, rear engine rear wheel drive sedan built on a unibody chassis, so in 1948, just as the development of the Modèle '49 was being finalised, a Merciel design team led by Léo Dujardin started work on just that. That car would become the 1951 Merciel De Luxe.

Unveiled during the 1950 Paris Auto Show, the De Luxe was praised by critics for its styling and design. The car featured many firsts for Merciel. It was the first Merciel to be built on a unibody chassis, the first to have independent suspension on all for wheels, the first to feature a radio, first to feature an automatic transmission and the first rear engined rear wheel drive car Merciel would ever mass produce.
Unlike the Modèle '49, the De Luxe was aimed squarely at the middle class, with more comfortable seats, padding on the dash and doors a radio and carpets.

Under the bonnet sat a new 1.7L straight 4 engine, designed as the replacement for the previous 2L inline 4. The engine would be developed by Montreuil as the main workhorse for all upcoming designs. As such, it was made entirely out of cast iron and much like the “Benett” straight 3, used a 2 valve pushrod design. This design, named the “Clement”, was extremely reliable and would continue to be adapted for other Merciel designs for years to come.
Overall, the Merciel De Luxe was a mild success, selling over 250,000 from 1951-1963. In its final years of production it was overshadowed by many superior offerings from other French manufacturers such as FAAL and Ceder. It would replaced by the much better Merciel 200 in 1962.

Specification: 1951 Merciel De Luxe

Chassis

Chassis Type: Unibody
Chassis Material: Steel
Panel Material: Steel
Engine Placement: Rear Longitudinal
Front Suspension: McPherson Strut
Rear Suspension: McPherson Strut

Engine

Montreuil “Clement” OHV Inline 4
Displacement: 1696cc
Block Material: Cast Iron
Header Material: Cast Iron
Fuel System: Single Barrel Twin Eco Carburettor
Fuel Type: 92 RON Leaded
Power: 63 hp @ 4100 RPM
Torque: 118 Nm @ 2700 RPM
Weight: 145 kg

Trim

Drivetrain: Longitudinal RWD
Gearbox: 2 Speed Automatic
Differential: Open
Tyre Description: [F] P130/125C13 100A | [R] P170/95C13 108A
Brake Type: [F]250mm Single Leading Shoe Drum | [R] 240mm Single Leading Shoe Drum
Brake Bias: [F] 51% | [R] 49%
Undertray: n/a
Seating: Front Bucket and Rear Bench (5 seats)
Power Steering: None
Springs: Standard
Dampers: Twin-Tube
Sway Bars: Passive
Weight: 908 kg
Fuel Economy: 18.4 MPG (US)

Performance

Top Speed: 83.6 mph
0-60mph Time: 34.4
50-80mph Time: 34.7
Quarter Mile Time: 24.60s
Standing Km Time: 46.06s
Stopping Distance: 66.5m

Price

Fr 81,250 @10% Markup (Converted into 1951 Francs)

22 Likes
49

Very classy design indeed, this would be on the Karmann Ghia level of collectors car.

5 Likes
50

https://i.imgur.com/cI5z3Qd.png

Sporty Intentions (1956 Merciel 1200)

Backstory

Ever since the end of WW1, Merciel’s CEO Fabrice Benett had manoeuvred Merciel to manufacture cars mainly for the rising middle class. However, Benett had a hidden passion, going fast. Throughout the 1920s, Benett would enter modified Merciel’s into races all over Europe. One such race was the Mille Migila, which Benett vowed to win. After WW2, Benett’s dream of winning the Mille Migila continued using modified Merciels such as the Modèle '49 “Course” and the De Luxe “Rallye”. However, in 1954, Merciel engineers decided instead of modifying a car to win, why not just make a car designed to win. What would come from this is the Merciel 1200.

https://i.imgur.com/U10PnTI.jpg

Unveiled in 1956, the Merciel 1200 would be Merciel’s first foray in manufacturing sports cars. Lauded for its stunning looks and sleek curves the Merciel 1200 was an instant classic. Based on what was learned from manufacturing and design of the De Luxe, the Merciel 1200 also used a steel unibody design with a rear engine layout. However, unlike the De Luxe, the panels of the 1200 were made from fibreglass, the first time Merciel would use the material in any automobile. This was not only to reduce weight, but to allow for the more intricate curves to be made without needing skilled workers to hand beat the metal into the correct shape.

https://i.imgur.com/qOieWrG.jpg

In the rear sat a 1.2L “Jean” inline 4 developed by Montreuil for the new line of cars Merciel had been developing. Originally, the 1200 would have used the larger 1.8L “Clement” from the De Luxe, but Merciel engineers deemed it too heavy and not powerful enough and pushed for the development of the 1.2L “Jean” i4. The 1.2L i4 would output 49hp and was mated to a 4 speed manual transmission, the standard 1200 Vitesse could reach 0-62 in 14 seconds. While the engine output seemed measly, the car only weighed in at 643kg. This low weight and the independent suspension on all 4 wheels combined with the short wheelbase, made the Merciel 1200 a nimble machine.

https://i.imgur.com/cYU2IDt.jpg

A 1200 “Vitesse Sport” Model was also introduced. This model reduced the weight to 638kgs and had improved handling due to tuned suspensions and a set of specially designed radial tyres. While the Merciel 1200 would never race in the Mille Migila, due to the race being banned before Merciel could develop an upgraded version of the 1200, the car would still participate in races all across Europe to much success. Overall, under 2,000 Model 1200s would be made from 1956-1968 with a few special versions.

Specification: 1956 Merciel 1200 Vitesse

Chassis

Chassis Type: Unibody
Chassis Material: Steel
Panel Material: Fibreglass
Engine Placement: Rear Longitudinal
Front Suspension: McPherson Strut
Rear Suspension: McPherson Strut

Engine

Montreuil “Jean” OHV Inline 4
Displacement: 1199cc
Block Material: Cast Iron
Header Material: Cast Iron
Fuel System: Single Barrel Twin Eco Carburettor
Fuel Type: 92 RON Leaded
Power: 49 hp @ 4900 RPM
Torque: 84Nm @ 3000 RPM
Weight: 102 kg

Trim

Drivetrain: Longitudinal RWD
Gearbox: 4 Speed Manual
Differential: Open
Tyre Description: [F] P140/95R13 86Q | [R] P165/80R13 90Q
Brake Type: [F]250mm Single Leading Shoe Drum | [R] 250mm Single Leading Shoe Drum
Brake Bias: [F] 51% | [R] 49%
Undertray: n/a
Seating: Front Bucket (2 seats)
Power Steering: None
Springs: Standard
Dampers: Twin-Tube
Sway Bars: Passive
Weight: 643 kg
Fuel Economy: 25.9 MPG (US)

Performance

Top Speed: 89.0 mph
0-60mph Time: 14.0s
50-80mph Time: 15.4s
Quarter Mile Time: 19.26s
Standing Km Time: 36.60s
Stopping Distance: 40.7m

Merciel 1700 “Vitesse Rallye”

https://i.imgur.com/crO0DDr.jpg

Not to be confused with the Merciel 1700 introduced later in 1968, the Merciel 1700 Vitesse Rallye was the last hurrah of the 1200 series. With less than 400 made, 1700 Vitesse Rallye is incredibly rare. Introduced in 1966, the major change in the Vitesse Rallye was the engine and transmission. In the back now sat a modified and tuned version of the 1.7L “Clement” i4 that was found in the Merciel 110. With this new engine and a new 5 speed gearbox, the Vitesse Rallye now made 96hp and could reach 0-62 in 7 seconds. Half that of the original car. While the weight did bump up to 688kg, handling was improved with the new modified suspension components and a set of disc brakes in the front.

https://i.imgur.com/9Fk0Vij.jpg

Outside, the styling mostly stayed true to the original, however, one of the more distinct changes came in the form of the outrageously large whale tail spoiler. Added to keep the rear in check, the wing was originally disliked by the designers since they felt it stood out too much and ruined the look. As for colour choices, the Vitesse Rallye came only in two colours, Merciel Racing Yellow and Merciel Racing Blue, with the yellow being more popular.

https://i.imgur.com/9gvQuVY.jpg

While only a few of these cars were made, they would influence Merciel’s sports cars for decades to come. Its successor would come in 1968 sporting similar styling and identical layout. It would also kickstart Merciel’s racing teams and would help Merciel become a rally icon.

Specification: 1966 Merciel 1700 Vitesse Rallye

Chassis

Chassis Type: Unibody
Chassis Material: Steel
Panel Material: Fibreglass
Engine Placement: Rear Longitudinal
Front Suspension: McPherson Strut
Rear Suspension: McPherson Strut

Engine

Montreuil “Clement” SOHC Inline 4
Displacement: 1696cc
Block Material: Cast Iron
Header Material: Aluminium
Fuel System: Weber DCOE Twin Carburettor
Fuel Type: 92 RON Leaded
Power: 96 hp @ 5700 RPM
Torque: 134 Nm @ 3600 RPM
Weight: 128 kg

Trim

Drivetrain: Longitudinal RWD
Gearbox: 5 Speed Manual
Differential: Open
Tyre Description: [F] P150/85R13 87S | [R] P180/75R13 92S
Brake Type: [F]250mm Single Piston Solid Disc | [R] 250mm Single Leading Shoe Drum
Brake Bias: [F] 51% | [R] 49%
Undertray: n/a
Seating: Front Bucket (2 seats)
Power Steering: None
Springs: Standard
Dampers: Twin-Tube
Sway Bars: Passive
Weight: 689 kg
Fuel Economy: 22.5 MPG (US)

Performance

Top Speed: 106 mph
0-60mph Time: 7.51s
50-80mph Time: 6.24s
Quarter Mile Time: 15.78s
Standing Km Time: 30.16s
Stopping Distance: 38.4m

19 Likes
51

Gonna have a bit of a time skip here for certain reasons cough the auction

Sporty Intentions II (1968 Merciel 1700)

Backstory

By 1966, the Merciel 1200 was becoming outdated. The standard 1.2L i4 was too anemic to keep up with the competition, so Merciel tried rekindling its fire by shoehorning a larger 1.7L engine into it, but to no avail. The “Vitesse Rallye” was never designed to fit such a large engine, and by doing so created significant problems. Thus it was decided that instead of trying to fit ever larger engines into the old 1200 chassis, a new chassis based on the old one was to be made. In 1968, this would become the Merciel 1700.

Much like the Merciel 1200 before it, the new Merciel 1700 was a rear-engine sports coupe. It also retained the fibreglass body and used a steel unibody frame derived from the Merciel 200 family sedan. This made the 1700 overall much larger than its predecessor, however, it only weighed 100kgs more. Styling was done by Giordano Epifano from the Italian design house, Giudici S.p.A.

In the rear, sat the 1.7L “Clement” (Alu) inline 4. Unlike the standard 1.7L engine found in the Merciel 110/112, the new “Clement” was made entirely out of aluminium to reduce weight. The “Clement Alu” also received Weber carburettors and a custom tubular exhaust that improved airflow out of the engine. This meant that out of the factory, the Merciel 1700 now had 105hp and mated to the 5 speed manual, could reach 0-62 in 7 seconds.

Merciel 1700 Sport

A sportier model was also available in the form of the 1700 Sport. It featured an uprated 1.7L engine that produced 114hp and introduced new and bespoke interior trim. The suspension on this model was also tuned for better handling and the a large rear whaletail wing was added to further improve aerodynamics. Overall, 3,500 Merciel 1700s would be made from 1968-1975, with around 1,500 of those made being 1700 Sport variants and a handful of special edition models.

Specification: 1968 Merciel 1700

Chassis

Chassis Type: Unibody
Chassis Material: Steel
Panel Material: Steel
Engine Placement: Rear Longitudinal
Front Suspension: McPherson Strut
Rear Suspension: McPherson Strut

Engine

Montreuil “Clement” OHV Inline 4
Displacement: 1696cc
Block Material: Aluminium
Header Material: Aluminium
Fuel System: Weber DCOE Twin Performance Carburettor
Fuel Type: 92 RON Leaded
Power: 105 hp @ 5900 RPM
Torque: 139 Nm @ 4000 RPM
Weight: 108 kg

Trim

Drivetrain: Longitudinal RWD
Gearbox: 5 Speed Manual
Differential: Open
Tyre Description: [F] P160/85R15 93Q | [R] P195/70R15 97Q
Brake Type: [F]250mm Single Piston Disc | [R] 230mm Single Piston Disc
Brake Bias: [F] 54% | [R] 46%
Undertray: n/a
Seating: Front Bucket (2 seats)
Power Steering: None
Springs: Standard
Dampers: Gas Mono-Tube
Sway Bars: Passive
Weight: 733 kg
Fuel Economy: 18.9 MPG (US)

Performance

Top Speed: 99.3 mph
0-60mph Time: 7.39s
50-80mph Time: 6.48s
Quarter Mile Time: 15.78s
Standing Km Time: 30.60s
Stopping Distance: 35.3m

Price

Fr 81,250 @10% Markup (Converted into 1951 Francs)

22 Likes
52

It’s been a while, life happened and even more retcons have happened. Yes. It has been only 6 months since the last refresh of Merciel lore. Yay \o/… Anyways, have some new lore (which hopefully will last more than a year) with fancy graphics.

From the Ashes of War 1949 Merciel Modèle '49

Backstory

In September 1944, after the liberation of Paris, Merciel’s CEO, Fabrice Benett was charged with treason and conspiring with the enemy and placed under arrest. Benett would later die in prison in October that year. Benett would be replaced by Jean-Claude Affré, who was chosen by the provisional government to lead Merciel.
Initially, the government ordered Merciel to solely manufacture military vehicles such as trucks and half-tracks, however, Affré noted it would be impossible to keep Merciel financially sound by working on military contracts alone, as such, when the war ended in 1945, development of a new car began. This would become the Modèle '49.



Inspired by other European cars made at the time, the new Modèle '49 was designed to be as fuel efficient as possible. As such, the engineers decided to opt for a rear engine layout. Initially, the car was to use a unibody frame, however, time and cost restraints caused development of the Modèle '49 to be rushed. As such, the Modèle '49 uses a tubular spaceframe chassis. This was significantly cheaper than developing a new unibody chassis, however it took more skilled workers to manufacture. Eventually by 1951, the Modèle '49 was updated with a new unibody chassis that drastically reduced manufacturing costs and manufacturing time.



In the back sat a 760cc straight 4 engine. Named the “Benett”, the engine was not named after the previous CEO, but rather his nephew Alphonse Benett, who designed it. Made entirely from cast iron, the “Benett” was mechanically simple, using a pushrod overhead 2 valve system and an SU carburettor to mix the air and fuel. This meant it was cheap to make, easy to repair and most importantly, was very reliable.
All together, the Modèle '49 was an affordable, reliable car, making it highly popular. The car’s popularity meant it would remain in production from 1949 all the way to 1967 in France and up until 1983 in Brazil.

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Big like. This looks French at its best. Glad to see a great challenger for Renoir.

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An Early Christmas Gift from Merciel Racing

What a better way to end the year with Merciel Racing’s WEC Super Season cars.

While the team did not achieve the results that they hoped for at the start of 2018, the team did have an exciting two years of racing, going toe to toe against the very best.

We look forward to the upcoming 2020 Le Mans Hypercar for which the team are currently in the process of developing a car for.

Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!

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So after almost 3 years of this thread being a thing and like 50 or so posts I’ve decided that its way too cluttered, especially since there are multiple posts covering the same damn car. Because of this, its pretty confusing to took at, so I’ve decided to make two new threads, one for historic Merciel models, and one for current Merciel models (ll probably do the same for my other brands). So yeah, look out for those when I make them…or not, I don’t mind.

6 Likes