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Another Marque Lost

Mickey Richaud

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This just in:

Mercury

Not surprised; they lost their identity YEARS ago, just like many of the GM brands.

Still, it's sad.
 
I weep not.

I'm on a tear this morning... :smirk:

If the makers of some <span style="font-style: italic">thing</span> get to a point where their attitude allows them to think they're "too big to fail" and cease listening to their end-users, they either change their product into something which <span style="font-style: italic">will</span> be marketable or cease to exist.
 
Agreed, but like I said, the various "interpretations on a theme" offered up by the companies lost their identities long ago.

I remember when a Ford was a Ford and a Mercury was not, even though they shared a lot of pieces. They were distinguishable and had their own character.

Those days have long ago passed, for whatever reason, and it makes sense to thin the herd, even though regrettable.

Oh, and let's keep this apolitical, please!

Mickey
 
Today's Mercury division: Less than 1% market share, average buyer's age over 65. It's time for Ford to let it go.

But boy, do I ever have memories of great Mercurys! My uncle Jim Keith had a long history with Mercurys. He customized a '50 "lead sled" Merc and used it to commute from Roanoke to Parris Island when he was in the Marines in the fifties. Very pretty, and fast, car. Later, he bought a brand new 60-something Monterrey: huge, with power windows!

The one I loved most was the '67 Cyclone GT. Red, black interor, 390 S-code engine, absolutely beautiful car. And he drove like a maniac when I was in the car. I only wish I coulda bought it from him . . .

All the great marques going like flies, sad but necessary in today's harsh marketing environment.

RIP, Mercury, great car!
 
I think the only Mercury that ever struck my fancy was the '67 Cougar.
 
Tarted up Mustang. Which was a tarted up Falcon...

(I'm jus' feelin' snarky this AM. Th' boss has left th' building.) :smirk:
 
A buddy in high school drove a '64 Hi-Po 289 Comet Cyclone. Beautiful car and oh what a performer.
While Mercury's problems were many (it was no longer the bridge between Ford and Lincoln), I think it certainly didn't help to replace names like Cougar, Comet, Cyclone, and Marauder with names like Milan, Mystique, Mariner, Marquis, and Sable.
 
Last time U.S. marques meant something? The late sixties and early seventies:

Ford = Cale Yarborough

Plymouth = Richard Petty

Chevy = Donnie Allison

To me, that's when it really meant something to drive a Ford, GM or MoPar product. All gone now, with fancy, millionaire-backed teams, etc.
 
Cale also drove a Mercury in the late '60's.
My Dad bought a '49 merc brand new - Dark Blue,
nice looking car.He sold it because it had over
60,000 miles on it,& was afraid that it would
start breaking down.Bought a '53 Buick after that.
Anyone remember one of their advertising slogans-
"Mercury - the Man's Car".

- Doug
 
Remember when Ford stuck the T Bird label on the cheap tin can family type? I forget what year that was, but it was a flop. Bought my wife a new 73, what a tank that was! Then they came out with the bird that's running around today and it also was a flop as far as sales go. If they started building the 57 again, it might stick around for a while. Is the bird label gone for good? Oh well, that's why they pay the execs high bucks. :devilgrin:
 
DrEntropy said:
Tarted up Mustang. Which was a tarted up Falcon...

(I'm jus' feelin' snarky this AM. Th' boss has left th' building.) :smirk:
Maybe I'm biased. My first car was a '67 Mustang. :laugh:
 
:lol: Not if you saw the car. I bought it with paper route money. $300, and it wasn't from someone I knew.
 
Not a lot sad, but, my first "real" car was a Mercury Meteor (not this one) Greta cruiser! 170 engine, 3 in the tree. Would cruise forever at 60 MPH. LOVED the rocket tailights!
 
jpsmith, my grandfather "poppy" had a burgundy 67 2 door ford fairlane with a 289 that i loved, it was very "snappy", but the car he had that i miss most is his 56-57? desoto firedome, now that thing knew how to get away from a green light! as was often demonstrated by poppy, but never when grandma was with us.
 
My dad had a '68 LTD wagon with a 390 - fair bit of snap there too - but never (rarely :smile: with mom
 
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