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Old 06-02-2010, 02:14 PM
 
Location: Austin, TX
1,779 posts, read 4,002,508 times
Reputation: 924

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Hi, what with Mercury soon to be extinct, I thought I would make a thread where users can share memories of Mercury vehicles they owned.

I can start off, but mine are more current memories. I bought a 1994 Grand Marquis last year and went on a road trip from Phoenix to Dallas. Great experience. I still have the car as my daily driver.

Please share your memories too.
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Old 06-02-2010, 06:55 PM
 
2,143 posts, read 3,345,609 times
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My first time driving a RWD V8 car was my grandpa's 1990 Mercury Grand Marquis. He's had Ford panther cars ever since the early 80's and is a bit of a leadfoot, so I have fond memories of being tossed back into the seat by that big V8. He now has a 2005 Grand Marquis.

My parents had a 1989 Grand Marquis and a 1993 Villager. I was young, so I don't remember the GM very well, but I do remember the Villager...not one of Mercury's best efforts (basically a rebadged Nissan Quest). We drove it on a 1,800 mile round trip to Montana and back, and those were some of the least comfortable car seats I have ever been in.
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Old 06-02-2010, 07:55 PM
 
Location: Earth
4,237 posts, read 24,695,353 times
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2 Merc memories for me....

1. When I owned/drove a 1981 Capri...red and silver with grey interior, it looked just like a Mustang but with a flat squared off nose...had a gutless 200 cube inline 6 with a 3 speed auto...couldn't get out of it's own way and couldn't even spin tires except on gravel. But I did have a killer stereo in it. Sadly it lost it's life in 1997 when it was introduced to a telephone pole at 50 mph.

2. After that I got a 1 owner 1978 Cougar jade green on green. Exterior needed new paint but the interior was immaculate! The R12 a/c still worked but the car had sat so long it had a ton of issues, most notably a very bad rear main seal leak. I sold it for what I paid for it in 1997 ($300) and the new owner drove it for a little bit then sold it off to a boneyard running and driving for $50. Made me mad I would have bought it back for that. oh well.
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Old 06-02-2010, 08:04 PM
 
Location: Chicago
38,707 posts, read 102,722,835 times
Reputation: 29967
My parents had a '79 Marquis. My brother wrecked it at prom in 1987. The end.
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Old 06-02-2010, 08:45 PM
 
4,709 posts, read 12,622,748 times
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My dad had a '64 Montclair with a 427 in it. The rear window went down at the touch of a button...which was cool.

In 1967 the rear tires suddenly started to wear out after only about 2000 miles....I got my license in '67...
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Old 06-02-2010, 08:54 PM
 
2,023 posts, read 5,293,894 times
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I had a Marauder and now I drive a nice 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis which is a great car that came with a 460 v8, which I built up some, c6 auto, and 9-3/8" rear axle which is heavier duty than but similar to the 9" rear, also has four wheel disc brakes and a trunk big enough that I can throw my mountian bike into. These 1978 and earlier fullsize Mercurys are some of the best cars built.
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Old 06-02-2010, 09:09 PM
 
273 posts, read 953,838 times
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I recall many Mercs from the 50s and 60s, when they were popular for hot rods. Engine swaps were common, as well as hot rodding up the original flathead Ford V-8s. One example I still recall (in some detail) was a 1950 two door sedan-coupe that was for sale sitting along the road in a field in PA. It was painted 'candy apple red' and was nosed and decked and all extraneous body chrome trim removed . The re chromed grille and bumper remained. The engine was a chrome trimmed 1959-60 389 cu in Pontiac (IIRC) with 3x2 carbs, hot cam, headers etc. It had a 3 speed Hurst floor shifter tranny, I can't recall which manufacturer. The interior was black custom but I can't recall the detail. It was a very cool car in the day. I think it was for sale for $800-1000. The owner was on his way to Vietnam. I still remember his name and recall seeing that he died years later but still very young. I don't recall what killed him, possible an auto accident. My friend didn't buy the car, but I still recall the demo drive. This was a long time ago.

I just Googled this one up ...it is similar but it has more side chrome, scalloped paint, and a few more mirrors than I recall on the one we looked at. 1950 Mercury Coupe--Maroon w/Faded Scallops

The contrast between Googling such a picture instantly (in one try) and the communications and media of that era are dramatically different. Times sure have changed
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Old 06-02-2010, 09:12 PM
 
Location: Northridge/Porter Ranch, Calif.
24,454 posts, read 33,133,882 times
Reputation: 7594
Quote:
Originally Posted by car54 View Post
My dad had a '64 Montclair with a 427 in it. The rear window went down at the touch of a button...which was cool.
That was a great feature. More cars should have had it.

Quote:
In 1967 the rear tires suddenly started to wear out after only about 2000 miles....I got my license in '67...
I think I know why the rear tires didn't last long.
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Old 06-02-2010, 10:18 PM
 
Location: Vermont / NEK
5,794 posts, read 13,887,695 times
Reputation: 7292
One of the nicest cars I owned was a 67 Monterey convertible. White with a black top, red interior and a 390 V8. Got in in 1971 for $700. My mom liked the car so much I ended up selling it to her quite cheaply. She kept it for years.
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Old 06-03-2010, 01:24 AM
 
Location: Vancouver, B.C., Canada
11,154 posts, read 29,153,500 times
Reputation: 5479
let just say it was a maroon 1989 mercury tracer that got me through my freshmen year in commuity college. it was ugly but it was great on gas but I had a 45 minute freeway commute there and back and the 3-speed was terrible because the little 1.6 liter motor was screaming at 65mph.

my ego got the best of me and I traded it for a 1983 ford bronco with a 351 windsor, holly 4bbl and a C4 3-speed auto tranny that got 10 mpg it really cut into my beer budget in college but that was probably a good thing LOL.

Last edited by GTOlover; 06-03-2010 at 01:33 AM..
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