The Mercury brand could soon follow the path laid down by Pontiac, Saturn, Plymouth and Oldsmobile. Some industry sources quoted by US media say Ford may kill Mercury before the year end. Continuous sales drop would justify this decision.
Sales figures obtained from DesRosiers Automotive Consultants in Toronto confirm this trend. In 2001, Mercury sold 311,787 vehicles in the US. In 2008, US sales had dwindled to 120,248, a 61.4% drop.
In Canada, even though the Mercury brand was phased out in 1999, the Grand Marquis and its performance counterpart, the Marauder (offered in 2003-2004), continued being sold until 2008 – both wearing the Mercury badge!
Created by Edsel Ford
"The Mercury brand has stood for a lot of things over the years," said Darryl Hazel in 2003 when he was president of the Lincoln Mercury division. He was celebrating Mercury at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit for its role in the Ford portfolio. "That role is essentially the same as it was in 1939 when Edsel created it. Mercury gives customers distinctive styling along with innovative features and an expression of individuality that they don't find in the Ford brand. In price, Mercury products slot into the lineup between the Ford and Lincoln products."
The first model called Mercury 8 went into production in 1939. In the US, it sold for $916. It offered a 95-hp V-8 and more comfort than an $825, 85-hp Ford Deluxe. Over 65,000 were built the first year.
Production was halted in 1942 because of the war effort. It was not before 1949 that a first new Mercury was introduced. This model received a distinctive body style.
In the 50s, the Mercury featured innovations such as the Merc-o-matic transmission and the industry's first sunroof, a transparent top on the 1954 Mercury.
Sporty 60s
The 60s was a decade of speed and performance with racy Marauders, Meteors and Cyclones driven by racing legends such as Parnelli Jones, Cale Yarborough and Bill Stroppe. In 1967 the sporty Cougar coupe bowed in the wake of the Mustang success - America's first Pony Car.
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| The 1939 Mercury 8 was the first model to bear that name. (Photo: Ford) |
Sales figures obtained from DesRosiers Automotive Consultants in Toronto confirm this trend. In 2001, Mercury sold 311,787 vehicles in the US. In 2008, US sales had dwindled to 120,248, a 61.4% drop.
In Canada, even though the Mercury brand was phased out in 1999, the Grand Marquis and its performance counterpart, the Marauder (offered in 2003-2004), continued being sold until 2008 – both wearing the Mercury badge!
Created by Edsel Ford
"The Mercury brand has stood for a lot of things over the years," said Darryl Hazel in 2003 when he was president of the Lincoln Mercury division. He was celebrating Mercury at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit for its role in the Ford portfolio. "That role is essentially the same as it was in 1939 when Edsel created it. Mercury gives customers distinctive styling along with innovative features and an expression of individuality that they don't find in the Ford brand. In price, Mercury products slot into the lineup between the Ford and Lincoln products."
The first model called Mercury 8 went into production in 1939. In the US, it sold for $916. It offered a 95-hp V-8 and more comfort than an $825, 85-hp Ford Deluxe. Over 65,000 were built the first year.
Production was halted in 1942 because of the war effort. It was not before 1949 that a first new Mercury was introduced. This model received a distinctive body style.
In the 50s, the Mercury featured innovations such as the Merc-o-matic transmission and the industry's first sunroof, a transparent top on the 1954 Mercury.
Sporty 60s
The 60s was a decade of speed and performance with racy Marauders, Meteors and Cyclones driven by racing legends such as Parnelli Jones, Cale Yarborough and Bill Stroppe. In 1967 the sporty Cougar coupe bowed in the wake of the Mustang success - America's first Pony Car.
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| The Grand Marquis was the last Mercury model sold in Canada. It was phased out in 2008 even though the brand had disappeared in 1999. (Photo: Ford) |