How good were the 1978-83 Ford Fairmont/Mercury Zephyr's? (mileage, engine, wagon)
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I wouldn't hold my breath for them to become collector cars.
In general the 10 years from 73-83 were not good vintages for domestic American cars. There were a few exceptions, but for the most part you are looking at those huge, heavy, ugly bumpers, wheezy engines with low power output yet muscle-car like thirst, and indifferent build quality. Sometimes this is called the "malaise era" - remember Jimmy Carter giving speeches in his sweater suggesting we "expect less" or something to that effect?
In fairness to these cars though, they are pretty much typical of the era, not a lot better or worse than the competition.
I always thought the cars from 1973-83 were way underpowered and were really overweight, I can see why they've had to downsize their vehicles in the late 1970s/early 1980s.
Me too! My great aunt (grandpas sister) had a light yellow 1978 Ford Fairmount 2-dr sedan that she bought brand new. She kept that car until about 2002... it was still like new and had only around 56K miles. I think her son has it now. She finally "upgraded" to a new car and bought a new 2002 Mercury Sable. She only enjoyed the new car for a couple of years, as she passed away on Thanksgiving day 2004 quite suddenly. I think her daughter still has the Sable. I dont recall her ever having and problems with the Fairmont.
Grandpa had a white 1979 Ford Fairmont stationwagon in the early 1990s. It had 18K actual miles when he bought it!! That was his "work" car before he fully retired in the mid 1990s and that car served him well. It did not look like new after a couple of years, his tools he hauled in it trashed it. It had the reliable 200 inline 6-cylinder.
Interior quality, these cars were rather cheap and not up to Fords standards during that era, but the drivetrains (on the 200 inline 6-cylinder models) were bulletproof. This designed lingered until 1986 but then called LTD and Marquis (not to get confused with the big Crown Victoria and Grand Marquis those later years).
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Originally Posted by southernnaturelover
I have two aunts that both had Fairmonts, don't remember the year of either car.
My Mom's sister had a black Fairmont coupe w/ red vinyl seats (the boxy bodystyle). I don't know what was wrong with that car, but it wouldn't go over about 55mph, and that was floored. Maybe something wrong with a vacuum line? She ditched that car in '87 and got a new Olds 88. She was so used to having to floor the Fairmont she'd smoke the tires on the Olds at a stoplight.
My Dad's sister had a beige Fairmont Futura that was much nicer on the inside, it had cloth seats. I don't remember any problems with it.
Had a Fairmont with the straight six 200 in it and the motor just kept going. The rest of it was cheep crap-o-la. Drive it down an old washboard road and it would rattle like an epileptic diamondback.
I believe that black one my Mom's sister had must have had a 4 cylinder in it, or at least it sounded like it did. That thing was tragic, she used to make jokes that she was going to make us kids get out and help push it up the hills.
I believe that black one my Mom's sister had must have had a 4 cylinder in it, or at least it sounded like it did. That thing was tragic, she used to make jokes that she was going to make us kids get out and help push it up the hills.
Must have had the 2.3L 4-cylinder.... the I-6 was pretty peppy.
My uncle had the Mercury Zephyr version in the late 1980s. It was like a ZR-7 model or something... really high optioned 2-door model. They were much more rare, but not so much so in the late 80s.
Must have had the 2.3L 4-cylinder.... the I-6 was pretty peppy.
LOL if you say so. I had one of those Mercury Capris (Mustang counterpart) with that same inline 6 engine....no power whatsoever. Used to tick like a sewing machine too. Only time I could even spin the tires was if it were on some gravel. I don't think it could even spin them on wet pavement.
Does anyone know if the Fairmonts were offered with a turbo 2.3 liter engine?
It didn't matter what cylinder. The engine was the least of its problems. The car's build quality was wretched from top to bottom and end to end. They could build a better car in Botswana these days. But to answer your question, it was a 4-cylinder. And part of its problem was this car could not get out of its own way. I actually lost a drag race with a school bus. I'm not making that up.
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? She ditched that car in '87 and got a new Olds 88. She was so used to having to floor the Fairmont she'd smoke the tires on the Olds at a stoplight.
