Thursday, May 21, 2015

7k: Big Mustang: 1998 Mercury Mountaineer SportTruck prototype

In the late '90s, Ford built a one-off sporting edition of a Ford mid-size SUV using Ford Racing products. They planned to promote it through Ford Racing dealerships to bolster Ford's motorsport history and credibility. It was a great move to build up Ford's public image. So Ford built it... as a Mercury. The supercharged special has lived a long but confusing life, and is now available for relatively little money. Find this 1998 Mercury Mountaineer SportTruck prototype for sale in Huntington Beach, CA for $7,495 via craigslist.


Whatever gaps are in the craigslist posting can probably be filled in with information about the Saleen Explorer XP8. Both use blowers in Ford's old 5.0-liter, instead of the modular 4.6. Both use a four-speed auto. Both are marginally less likely to roll over, thanks to a 2-inch drop and additional chassis modifications. While the XP8 was available in all-wheel-drive, this Mountaineer powers the rear wheels only. Engine output should be similar to the Saleen's 286 horsepower and 366 ft-lbs of torque.


Ford's 4R70W four-speed automatic, used in Mountaineers, Mustangs, F-150s, Crown Victorias, and more, gets a beefier torque converter and a much-needed shift map adjustment. It sends power through a Ford Racing ("Mercury Racing" doesn't have the same ring to it) differential en route to 255mm-wide tires.


It's been on the dyno, in a magazine, and on the track. It has new parts and passes SMOG in California. And it's offered in the same Toreador red/tan leather color combination as every other Mercury still on the road. Gold racing stripes don't help the image, but a nice smokey burnout should.


See another discarded factory prototype? Email us tips@dailyturismo.com.

 PhiLOL actually likes the tuna here, but abhors structural rust. Save the manuals.

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3 comments:

  1. UnknownMay 21, 2015 at 5:09 AM

    I don't know, that seems like an amazing deal to me. $7,500 for what's basically a one-off, highly documented concept vehicle that you can actually drive around? Boo-yaa. Nice find and spotlight, DT.

    ReplyDelete
  2. JimmyinTEXASMay 21, 2015 at 8:40 AM

    And if while doing that smoky burn out you spin a main bearing or worse, a piston rod comes from together, no problem. Just slap a coyote in there and keep on truckin... WOOHOO

    ReplyDelete

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