Veros Marca
| Veros Marca | |
|---|---|
 Veros Marca Mk1 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Veros |
| Production | 1977–1986 |
| Assembly | Tythim, Arimathea |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 3-door hatchback |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,413 mm (95.0 in) |
| Length | 3,829 mm (150.7 in) |
| Width | 1,603 mm (63.1 in) |
| Height | 1,395 mm (54.9 in) |
| Curb weight | 860–941 kg (1,896–2,075 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | PST Tanten |
The Veros Marca is a small, three-door passenger car produced by the Veros Motor Company from 1977-1984. It was the first car developed by Veros, previously the Tythim Motor Corporation, following its change of ownership. It was hoped that the Marca, which replaced the PST Tanten, previously the smallest car in the company's line-up, would be the salvation of the beleaguered company.
Background
Development
Development of the Marca, initially code-named Project 1, began soon after the acquisition of the Tythim Motor Corporation (PST), even before the new ownership decided to rebrand the company. Its guiding principles from the outset were reliability foremost and low cost of manufacture, as the company recognised an urgent need to undercut foreign imports to regain market share. They also hoped to increase their sales in Trellin, which was poorer and had lower rates of car ownership than other nations of the Trellinese Empire.
Much of PST's design team had been laid off years prior, requiring a complete rebuild of the department. As one investor, Bob of Bob Co., stated subsequently, "We thought we understood the severity of PST's situation from long before we bought it right up until the moment we walked into the head design office. Then, and only then, did we realise how little was left of the company." The new ownership hired experienced foreign engineers to head the design team. A number of engines, for other proposed cars as well as Project 1, were designed by engineers employed on loan from Alukiri and Malle, a major Arimathean shipbuilding and heavy engineering company.
There was some discussion during the design phase as to whether the new car should be front- or rear-wheel drive. The former would have been cheaper to manufacture, but the latter was considered to increase its sales potential as, although it was not intended as an offroad vehicle, it would likely be driven on relatively poor roads that dominated rural Arimathea and Trellin.
First generation (1977-1983)
Engine specifications
The Marca was initially offered with two petrol engines. The Marca 80 was a 1.4-litre engine that made 78 hp (58 kW), while the Marca 100 was a 1.65-litre engine (advertised as 1.7-litre) that made 93 hp (69 kW).
| Model | Displacement | Max. power at rpm | Max. torque at rpm | 0–100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration | Top speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 | 1,397 cc | 78 hp (58 kW) / 5000 | 139 N⋅m (103 lb⋅ft) / 3000 | 12.3 seconds | 163 km/h (101 mph) |
| 100 | 1,651 cc | 93 hp (69 kW) / 4800 | 160 N⋅m (120 lb⋅ft) / 3100 | 10.6 seconds | 187 km/h (116 mph) |
Second generation (1983-1986)
The Marca Mk2 was unveiled midway through 1983. In reality, as the design team on the Marca was reduced in favour of newer models to just four engineers, it was little more than a facelift of the Mk1, bringing a refreshed dashboard, some safety improvements and a new engine option, the Marca 110, that replaced the Marca 100. The previous generation's 1.4-litre engine continued to be sold as the Marca 80.
Engine specifications
| Model | Displacement | Max. power at rpm | Max. torque at rpm | 0–100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration | Top speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 110 | 1,712 cc | 106 hp (79 kW) / 4800 | 186 N⋅m (137 lb⋅ft) / 3000 | 9.7 seconds | 191 km/h (119 mph) |
Motorsport
Rally
Like its predecessor, the PST Tanten, the Marca proved a successful rallying car. From 1979, Veros fitted a stripped-down and lightweight version of the car called the Marca Ri with a 2-litre, 155 hp (116 kW) engine.
The Arimathea National Rally Championship was won by Marca Mk1 teams three years in a row, 1979-1981, as well as by Mk2 teams in 1983, 1986 and 1987. The car gave notable performances at other rallies. EB and TM won the Retikh Rally in a Marca Mk2 twice, in 1985 and 1987.