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147-579: The Mercury Grand Marquis is an automobile that was produced by Mercury from the 1975 until 2011 model years. Introduced as the flagship sub-model of the Mercury Marquis in 1975, the Grand Marquis became a stand-alone model line in 1983, serving as the largest Mercury sedan. The model line served as the sedan counterpart of the Mercury Colony Park station wagon up to 1991. The fourth generation

294-534: A 140mph speedometer. The option package was offered for any sedan trim; while primarily offered on the fleet-oriented S trim, police cars were also offered in the LX trim (including interior carpeting, cloth seats, full wheel covers, and whitewall tires). Other options allowed for multiple vehicles to share a common key. The standard engine was the 5.0 L V8, with a 5.8 L V8 (with up to 180 hp) offered as an option; to avoid "gas guzzler" taxes, customers who ordered

441-510: A delete option on fleet vehicles). Following the 1987 model year, the two-door LTD Crown Victoria sedan was discontinued (only 5,527 were sold in comparison to 105,789 four-door sedans in 1987, down from 6,291 in 1986 ). Demand for two-door vehicles had shifted towards sportier designs (such as the Thunderbird and the Mustang), leaving the compact Tempo as the only 1988 Ford model line sold as both

588-520: A delete option. For 1981, the sideview mirrors were remounted and relocated rearward. For 1982, Ford phased out FORD lettering on both the grille and trunklid, phasing in the Ford Blue Oval emblem (the grille emblem was offset to the drivers' side). For 1983, the exterior received a revised grille design; the taillamp lenses were also redesigned (distinguished by the deletion of the LTD script). For 1984,

735-584: A distinct higher-performance variant of the Monterey. In a design change, the fastback Marauder roofline was discontinued; the Breezeway design was dropped in 1967 (the latter, following the increasing availability of air conditioning units integrated within the ventilation system). In 1967, Mercury debuted its two most successful and longest-running nameplates: the Mercury Cougar and Mercury Marquis. The Cougar

882-603: A downsized Marquis; while nearly matching the Cougar sedan in exterior footprint, the 1979 Marquis gained interior space over its 1978 predecessor. The Capri made its return, shifting from German-produced captive import to counterpart of the Ford Mustang ; for the first time, the Capri adopted Mercury divisional branding. Bolstered by the redesign of the Marquis and the popularity of Cougar XR7,

1029-530: A dual-exhaust system that raised engine output to 210 hp (157 kW; 213 PS), was optional. It was essentially the counterpart to the Ford Crown Victoria Touring Sedan. All models of the Grand Marquis were coupled to a 4-speed automatic transmission. For 1993, the hydraulically controlled AOD transmission was replaced by the electronically controlled AOD-E transmission. In 1995, the AOD-E

1176-583: A dual-speed electric fan. For 1998, the standard-equipment V8 (with single exhaust) was increased in output to 200 hp (149 kW; 203 PS) (from 190). The handling suspension package continued in production, paired with the dual-exhaust version of the 4.6 L V8, producing 215 hp (160 kW; 218 PS). For 2001, the engine received redesigned cylinder heads and a new intake manifold called "Performance Improved" (P.I.), which increased horsepower to 220 and 235 hp (164 and 175 kW; 223 and 238 PS), respectively. A 2.73 rear-axle ratio

1323-527: A following as a street rod , making an appearance in several films. The 1949 redesign of the Mercury model line proved successful, with the division increasing its sales six-fold over 1948, becoming the sixth-most popular brand in the United States. In contrast to competing medium-price brands from Chrysler and General Motors (and independents including Nash , Hudson , or Packard ), Mercury continued to offer

1470-474: A four-link rear axle with a Watt's linkage , though a solid rear axle was retained. To improve braking, the four-wheel disc brakes were given dual-piston calipers for the front rotors, requiring 16-inch wheels. ABS was initially standard for 1998, then became optional in 2001, and again became standard in 2002. The traction control (which remained an option) was revised to work at any speed (rather than only low speeds). The third-generation Grand Marquis retained

1617-683: A full model range (replacing the Montclair and Park Lane outright) and the Colony Park as the only Mercury full-size station wagon. To differentiate the Marquis from the Monterey, Mercury introduced hidden headlights for the former. Replacing the S-55, the Mercury Marauder became a stand-alone full-size two-door, competing against the Oldsmobile Toronado and Buick Riviera; an optional 429 cubic-inch V8

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1764-453: A highly profitable market niche essentially to themselves; however, several competitors began to introduce competitive vehicles in the segment. Replacing the outdated Imperial and Fifth Avenue , the 1994 Chrysler New Yorker (bench seat) and LHS (bucket seats) were the first Chrysler sedans to match the interior dimensions of the Grand Marquis since the 1970s. For 1995, the Toyota Avalon

1911-534: A major downsizing over the 1973-1978 LTD Brougham/Landau, the LTD Crown Victoria shed 18 inches of length and nearly 1000 pounds of curb weight. While the Panther chassis was all-new, the basic suspension layout was carried over, adopting a double wishbone independent front suspension and a coil-sprung live rear axle . The front brakes were vented discs with rear drums. For its 1980 introduction, Ford produced

2058-417: A mid-cycle revision, with restyled front and rear fascias, better integrating the bumpers into the bodywork. To save weight, steel bumpers were replaced by aluminum. From 1979 to 1991, the Grand Marquis sedan was offered solely as a six-passenger sedan with a front bench seat . While mostly similar to its Ford counterpart, the dashboard of the Grand Marquis was trimmed with brushed stainless steel; in place of

2205-446: A more legible speedometer. For 1990, the model line received further interior updates, necessitated by passive-safety regulations. For the first time since 1979, the dashboard and steering wheel underwent a complete redesign (reversing the placement of the audio and climate controls); a driver-side airbag was introduced as standard equipment (for all versions). To comply with federal safety regulations, three-point seatbelts were added to

2352-638: A new Grand Marquis was slotted between the Marquis Brougham and the Lincoln Continental. Intended as the successor for the Comet, the Monarch led to a completely new market segment: the luxury compact car. The model line was met with success, with examples used as personal cars among Ford executives (including Henry Ford II ). Following the 1974 discontinuation of its engine, Lincoln-Mercury ended its sales of

2499-513: A number of convenience features were removed from the S trim, distinguished by its lack of a vinyl roof. Along with most bodyside chrome trim, other exterior and interior trim was decontented, including lower-grade carpeting, a standard AM radio, and single-piece front bench seat. In the United States, the 5.8 L V8 was restricted to fleet sale after 1982 (outside of law enforcement sales, examples were subject to gas-guzzler taxes ). Through its entire production, Ford produced option packages for

2646-572: A revision, as the script lettering used since its 1975 introduction was replaced by block-style lettering (in the style of the Sable, Topaz, and Tracer); the Lincoln-style hood ornament was replaced by a version with the Mercury "flying M" badge," which were added to the trunk lid and wheels. Unveiled on November 28, 1990, for the 1992 model year , both Ford and Mercury Panther-platform cars underwent their most extensive changes since their introduction for

2793-445: A second major revision. To comply with passive-restraint regulations, the Grand Marquis was given a driver-side airbag; the rear outboard seats received 3-point seatbelts. Coinciding with the addition of the airbag, a new steering column consolidated the turn signal and windshield wiper controls onto a single stalk; tilt steering became standard. The dashboard was completely redesigned, adopted the horizontal speedometer used by Ford (using

2940-642: A sedan and wagon variant was the freshly redesigned 1991 Chevy Caprice; the corporate cousin of the Caprice, the Buick Roadmaster, wouldn't offer a sedan until the 1992 model year, while the Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser was strictly available as a wagon for its brief run in 1991 and 1992. The first-generation Grand Marquis was built on the rear-wheel drive Ford Panther platform . While Ford and Mercury sedans had shared common chassis underpinnings since 1961,

3087-515: A silver background); for the first time, a temperature gauge was included alongside the fuel gauge. From 1979 to 1982, the Grand Marquis returned as a sub-model of the Mercury Marquis model line. Marketed as the flagship Mercury nameplate, the Grand Marquis competed against the Buick Electra , Oldsmobile 98 , and Chrysler New Yorker (and New Yorker Fifth Avenue ). For 1983, the Grand Marquis

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3234-403: A stand-alone model range, slotted above the Cougar. To further establish the brand in motorsport, the aerodynamically-optimized Cyclone Spoiler II was homologated as the 1969 Mercury entry for NASCAR. For 1969, the full-size Mercury line was given an all-new body and chassis (again shared with Ford, on its own 124-inch wheelbase). The nameplates were again revised, with the Marquis becoming

3381-467: A station wagon without woodgrain paneling was introduced, joining the Country Squire. For four door sedans, a "Brougham" full-length vinyl roof with a more formal roofline profile (including a "frenched" rear window) was introduced as an option. For 1985, the dashboard underwent multiple updates. The climate and audio controls were redesigned (the latter, to fit a single-DIN slot); the change led to

3528-459: A two-door and a four-door sedan. After nine years in the marketplace, the LTD Crown Victoria underwent a mid-cycle revision for 1988. To (nominally) improve the aerodynamics of the exterior, the front and rear fascias were restyled, rounding the edges of the fenders slightly; while still protruding outward substantially, the bumpers were better integrated within the body. While the roofline and doors were carried over, other changes sought to modernize

3675-474: A year later, producing the LTD Crown Victoria until 1991. The first time Ford used "Victoria" as a naming convention was 1932, for both Ford Victoria and Lincoln Victoria 2-door coupes. The model directly derives its name from the Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria of 1955–1956, the 1980 LTD Crown Victoria revived a distinctive styling feature from its Fairlane namesake: a targa-style band atop

3822-612: The Chevrolet Mercury and no fewer than seven separate failed automobile companies from 1903 to 1923. In November 1938, Edsel Ford introduced four body styles of the Mercury Eight at the New York Auto Show . Along with a two-door sedan and a four-door sedan, the Mercury was also introduced as a two-door convertible and a two-door trunked sedan; the body design was overseen by E.T. 'Bob' Gregorie. While similar in concept to

3969-674: The Chrysler New Yorker Brougham . The Grand Marquis was offered in either a four-door "pillared hardtop" sedan or a two-door hardtop sedan body style; as with the Marquis and Colony Park (and the Lincoln Continental), hidden headlights were standard. The model line included the 460 cu in (7.5 L) V8. A 400 cu in (6.6 L) V8 became standard for 1976 and 1977, with a 351 cu in (5.8 L) V8 becoming standard for 1978 (except in California, where

4116-623: The De Tomaso Pantera in 1971. Assembled in Modena, Italy, the Pantera was a two-door, mid-engine coupe powered by a 330 hp (330 PS; 250 kW) Ford 351 cubic inches (5.75 L) V8 . For 1972, the intermediate Montego line (based on the Ford Gran Torino) was redesigned with a body-on-frame chassis, creeping into full-size dimensions. After years of losing market share to the Cougar,

4263-567: The Dodge St. Regis . As Ford originally slated for its full-size car lines to be replaced by the Ford Taurus in the early 1980s, the LTD Crown Victoria saw relatively little change throughout its production. Fuel prices stabilized as the 1980s progressed, leading to increased demand for the model line, with Ford reversing course, producing both the Taurus and its full-size lines. For 1988 and 1990,

4410-596: The Ford LTD II , with the Cougar XR-7 hardtop becoming a counterpart of the Ford Thunderbird . The revision was well-received, as Cougar sales nearly tripled. In contrast to the downsized model ranges introduced by General Motors, the 229-inch (5,800 mm) long Marquis/Grand Marquis was powered by a 460 cubic inches (7.5 L) V8 (the second-largest displacement engine used in an American automobile). 1978 commenced

4557-615: The Ford Thunderbird and sent knock-down kits to selected branch locations in the United States. For 1942, Mercury implemented several changes to the Eight. As part of an interior redesign, the Eight received a dashboard configured similar to the Lincoln Zephyr. For the first time, the Flathead V8 was offered with 100 hp (100 PS; 75 kW) in standard form. To compete with Fluid Drive (Chrysler) and Hydramatic (General Motors),

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4704-662: The LaSalle and Buick , the Chrysler Airstream and Airflow , and the Packard One-Twenty . For 1938, De Luxe Ford became a sub-marque of Ford, offering a higher-price V8 car with a model-specific interior and exterior trim. In 1937, Edsel Ford began work on Mercury as a completely new brand, personally selecting the Roman god's name from over 100 options – in spite of the name having been used just four years earlier for

4851-491: The 1941-1948 Mercury, the 1949 redesign placed Mercury and Lincoln within a common bodyshell. Largely distinguished by headlight and grille designs, Mercury and Lincoln would also feature separately-trimmed interiors. Mechanically, Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury each offered a separate version of the Ford Flathead V8. For many years after its production, the 1949–1951 Mercury Eight (most commonly in two-door form) would develop

4998-488: The 1942 Mercury offered Liquamatic, the first semi-automatic transmission offered by Ford Motor Company. Shared with Lincoln, Liquamatic proved complex and unreliable, with many systems replaced by conventional manual transmissions. As production was suspended following the outbreak of World War II, Ford produced only 24,704 1942 Mercury vehicles. Following the rise of Henry Ford II at Ford Motor Company in September 1945,

5145-546: The 1942 suspension of production, Mercury did not return the Liquamatic transmission option. Alongside the wood-paneled station wagon, Mercury introduced a wood-bodied Sportsman convertible. For 1947 and 1948, few major changes were made. The rare Sportsman convertible was dropped for 1947 and the hubcaps were restyled; 1948 Mercurys were effectively carryover. In 1949, Ford Motor Company launched its first all-new post-war designs for all three of its model lines. In contrast to

5292-535: The 1979 base-trim Ford LTD, optional two-tone paint was discontinued. From 1980 to 1982, Ford marketed the LTD Crown Victoria name as the highest-trim version of the Ford LTD. For 1983, Ford enacted an extensive revision of its full-size and mid-size vehicles, affecting both Ford and Lincoln-Mercury in North America. The Ford brand split the LTD nameplate into two product ranges, with the 1979-1982 full-size LTD renamed

5439-476: The 1979 model year. While the chassis was retained, the body was all-new. After thirteen years on the market, the full-size sedans from Mercury and Ford were struggling against far more modern competition. Additionally, as an unintentional consequence of years of badge engineering , the Grand Marquis and its LTD Crown Victoria counterpart were left as virtual identical twins. The Grand Marquis and Ford Crown Victoria (no longer an LTD model) were given different bodies;

5586-426: The 1991 model year, the station wagon body style was dropped from the model line, as the 1992 Ford Crown Victoria was introduced only as a four-door sedan. Marketed primarily for fleet usage, including law enforcement, taxi, and other fleet markets, the LTD Crown Victoria S was base trim of the model line, slotted below the standard trim sold to retail markets (under the production code P72). To lower production costs,

5733-536: The 400 V8 was standard). Through 1978, the 460 V8 was optional. All engines were paired with a three-speed automatic transmission. Shared with the Lincoln Continental, four-wheel disc brakes were optional. For the 1979 model year, the full-size Mercury model line was downsized. The Grand Marquis returned as the premium model of the Mercury Marquis model range. The cars were seventeen inches shorter and nearly 1,000 pounds lighter (dependent on powertrain) than their 1978 predecessor. While its exterior footprint closely matched

5880-582: The B-pillars. The Fairlane used a bright chrome band; for a more contemporary appearance, the LTD Crown Victoria was styled with a band of brushed aluminum. In the landaulet -style of the Lincoln Town Car , the LTD Crown Victoria was fitted with a half-length padded vinyl roof , with the brushed-aluminum band covering the B-pillars (in place of the "coach lamps" of the Mercury Grand Marquis). In

6027-521: The Capri II in late 1977, leftover examples were sold through the 1978 model year. Of the 580,000 vehicles sold; nearly four out of every ten 1978 Mercurys were Cougars. For 1979, Mercury continued its modernization; as the division shifted away from performance vehicles at the beginning of the decade, the fuel crises of 1973 and 1979 sparked the decline of the landyacht . Two years after General Motors downsized its full-size model lines, Mercury introduced

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6174-460: The Comet was a divisional counterpart of the Ford Falcon (stretched to a 114-inch wheelbase); styled with four headlights (instead of two), the Comet was also fitted with wide tailfins. Coinciding with its Edsel origins and concerns about potential negative impacts of compact cars on the Mercury brand, the Comet was sold as a standalone product until the brands merged for the 1962 model year(similar to

6321-467: The Cougar (Montego) intermediate sedan, the 1979 Grand Marquis offered more interior and luggage space. Alongside the extensive downsizing of the model line, the Ford LTD Crown Victoria was introduced for the 1980 model year, serving as the first direct divisional counterpart of the Grand Marquis. Both vehicles shared nearly identical exterior designs except for front and rear fascias. During

6468-663: The Cougar replaced the Monarch; a counterpart of the Ford Granada, the Cougar was largely a Zephyr with a formal roofline and Marquis-influenced fascias. As in 1977, the expansion of the model line nearly doubled Cougar sales (though far below its previous rate). Replacing the Bobcat, the Mercury Lynx was introduced as the counterpart of the Ford Escort. The first front-wheel drive vehicle of

6615-477: The Crown Victoria to pivot away from 1992 to the 1997 "Aero" look. To streamline production, Ford and Mercury returned to a shared rear roofline between the two model lines, using the formal rear styling of the Grand Marquis; the configuration would remain in use through the end of production in 2011. With General Motors' full-size B-body vehicles discontinued in 1996 to focus on more profitable SUVs and trucks,

6762-634: The Custom the Medalist (to avoid confusion with the Ford Custom ). For 1957, Mercury redesigned its model range, with a 122-inch (3,100 mm) wheelbase sized between Ford and Lincoln. In a move upmarket, the slow-selling Medalist was discontinued, with the Monterey becoming the base model Mercury. Previewed by the 1956 XM-800 concept car, the Turnpike Cruiser (the pace car of the 1957 Indianapolis 500 )

6909-518: The Cyclone was quietly discontinued. The 1973 model year brought major functional changes to the Mercury line, the fuel crisis notwithstanding; in various forms, all Mercury cars were given 5-mph bumpers . The Marquis and Monterey were given an exterior update, adopting a "pillared hardtop" roofline (frameless door glass supported by a thin B-pillar). As American manufacturers shifted away from convertibles,

7056-614: The DeTomaso Pantera. 1976 saw the expansion of the smallest end of the Mercury model line. Introduced in Canada in 1975, the Bobcat was the Mercury counterpart of the Ford Pinto, sharing its coupe, hatchback, and station wagon body styles. The Capri was restyled with a hatchback and was renamed the Capri II. The Capri II (devoid of any divisional branding) became the second most-imported car in

7203-506: The Eight as its sole model line. For 1950, the Monterey name made its first appearance, denoting a special edition of two-door coupes (alongside the Lincoln Lido and Ford Crestliner ). Intended to compete against the hardtop coupes from General Motors, the Monterey simulated the appearance of a convertible through the use of a canvas or vinyl roof (though with a pillared roofline). During

7350-484: The Ford LTD Crown Victoria and Lincoln Town Car, the Grand Marquis received a light refresh in 1988 that included more rounded front and rear fascias and other subtle updates inside and out. In 1990, a driver's side airbag was introduced as standard equipment to comply with new federal safety regulations. By 1991, the final year for this generation of Grand Marquis, the only other full-size vehicle to offer both

7497-520: The Grand Marquis eventually became the only option on the market with rear-wheel drive and a V8 engine; the GM competitors were downsized to a smaller, front-whel-drive platform for 1985, while Chrysler got out of the traditional full-size market in 1981. Only the full-size GM station wagons carried on as direct competitors to the Mercury Colony Park wagon during the late 1980s. Along with its stablemates,

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7644-491: The LTD Crown Victoria and the LTD nameplate adopted for its mid-size sedan, replacing the Granada (updated and renamed for 1983). The standard-trim LTD Crown Victoria was intended for retail markets, coming with the 5.0 L V8 engine as standard. In addition to the landau-style vinyl padded roof with targa-style trim and wire wheel covers, the model featured full carpeting, reclining cloth bench seat, and AM/FM radio. Inheriting

7791-466: The LTD Crown Victoria remained the sole full-size Ford sedan with the mid-size Granada taking on the LTD name. Following a minor update for the 1988 model year, the LTD Crown Victoria was discontinued after the 1991 model year, replaced by the redesigned Ford Crown Victoria (dropping the station wagon body style and retiring the LTD prefix). Through its production, the LTD Crown Victoria was produced by Ford at several different facilities. At launch, it

7938-525: The LTD Crown Victoria station wagon; it is the only version sold directly to the general public (without woodgrain sides; also offered in standard and LX trim). From 1988 onward, the LTD Crown Victoria was offered in a namesake standard trim, the LX, and the fleet-oriented S trims.        From 1979 to 1991, a five-door station wagon was offered as part of the LTD/LTD Crown Victoria model line. Offered in equivalent trim as sedans,

8085-502: The LTD Crown Victoria underwent multiple revisions and updates. Following a shortened 1991 model year, the LTD Crown Victoria was replaced by the Ford Crown Victoria for 1992. The redesigned model line (dropping the LTD prefix) underwent extensive body, chassis, and powertrain upgrades, remaining in production through 2011. The Ford LTD Crown Victoria uses the rear-wheel drive Ford Panther platform architecture. As part of

8232-399: The LTD Crown Victoria was offered in two-door sedan and four-door sedan body styles; a five-door station wagon was offered as the wood-paneled LTD Country Squire. The body underwent a minor roofline revision over the 1979 LTD Landau, distinguished by a brushed-aluminum band covering the B-pillars. A half-length vinyl roof was standard; on fleet vehicles (such as police cars), the vinyl roof was

8379-444: The LTD Crown Victoria with two engines, both of them V8s: a 130 hp (97 kW) 4.9 L V8 (the previous 302, rounded up to 5.0 L by Ford) was standard, with a 140 hp (100 kW) 5.8 L V8 (351) as an option. The Ford C4 3-speed automatic transmission was paired to both V8 engines. For 1981, Ford took additional steps to increase the fuel efficiency of its full-size vehicles. A smaller-displacement V8 became

8526-705: The LTD Crown Victoria, optimizing it for usage as a police car . Competing against the Chevrolet Impala/Caprice 9C1 and the Dodge Diplomat/Plymouth Gran Fury, the LTD Crown Victoria with the Police Package was upgraded for heavy-duty use, including a reinforced frame, upgraded suspension and brakes, larger wheels and tires, and improved engine cooling. Other changes were made to accommodate police equipment, including heavy-duty interior materials, provisions for additional lights and sirens, and

8673-402: The LTD Crown Victoria/Country Squire wagon returned many of its functional features. The rear door was dual-hinged, allowing it to function as a tailgate or swing outward; other features included a standard roof rack and optional side-facing rear seats (expanding capacity from six to eight). The fleet-oriented S trim lacked the roof rack and the third-row seating (reducing capacity to six). From

8820-434: The LX offered split-bench seats (cloth or leather), upgraded interior carpet, additional sound insulation and power-operated features, and upgraded stereo systems. The exterior of the LX offered cornering lamps, two-tone paint, and standard aluminum-alloy wheels. While the model had previously been sold for fleet sales, the S model returned for 1987 as a dedicated fleet-sales model. Sold primarily for police and taxi sales,

8967-449: The Lincoln Town Car. Alongside the standard half-length vinyl roof, a full-length roof was offered; the LS offered an additional option of a "formal roof," configured with a " frenched " rear window. The Grand Marquis was styled with a different rear fascia, using full-width taillamps (separated by the license plate). During its production, the first-generation Grand Marquis underwent minor changes. For 1982, simulated vents were removed from

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9114-415: The Marquis included a standard vinyl roof and upright rear side windows that were similar to the Cougar. For 1969, the division revised its full-size range. The Monterey was retained as the standard-trim model, with the Marquis replacing the previous Montclair and Park Lane (the Marquis Brougham became the top Mercury, replacing the Park Lane Brougham). The Marauder returned as a fastback Marquis (replacing

9261-448: The Marquis nameplate, as the division retired the Monterey (in use since 1950). To expand the model range, the Grand Marquis became the highest-trim Marquis (slotted above the Brougham). Bridging the price and content gap between the Marquis Brougham and the Lincoln Continental, the Mercury Grand Marquis gave the division a vehicle to compete against premium medium-brand sedans, including the Buick Electra 225 , Oldsmobile Ninety Eight , and

9408-420: The Mercury brand reached its all-time sales peak, with nearly 670,000 vehicles sold. As Lincoln-Mercury entered the 1980s, Mercury continued the modernization of its model line, redesigning its entire lineup between 1978 and 1982. Since the early 1960s, the use of platform sharing had left Ford and Mercury model lines styled virtually the same, differing only by grilles, wheels, badging, and minor trim. Through

9555-426: The Mustang, the Cougar was repackaged as a competitor of the A-body coupes ( Chevrolet Monte Carlo , Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme , Pontiac Grand Prix ) of General Motors. Slotted below the Montego, the Comet made its return as a counterpart of the Ford Maverick (sharing much of its chassis underpinnings with the 1960 Comet). At the other end of the performance spectrum from the Capri, Lincoln-Mercury began imports of

9702-429: The Panther chassis marked the first time the two model lines shared the same wheelbase with the Mercury downsized from 124 to 114.3 in (3,150 to 2,903 mm). Although reduced in size, the Grand Marquis retained the suspension design with a live rear axle suspension and double wishbone independent front suspension , with coil springs at all four wheels. In 1985, gas-charged shock absorbers were standardized for

9849-436: The Panther platform was carried over from 1991, an all-new engine would be used for the 1992 Grand Marquis. The replacement for the OHV 5.0 L and 5.8 L Windsor V8s, the 190 hp (142 kW; 193 PS) 4.6 L SOHC Modular V8 engine was the first overhead-cam V8 to appear in an American-market full-size sedan. An optional handling package, including a heavy-duty suspension, 3.27 rear-axle (instead of 2.73), and

9996-403: The S trim was externally distinguished by its vinyl roof delete, steel wheels and partial wheel covers, and the lack of a hood ornament and aluminum B-pillar trim. The interior of S trim vehicles were spartan, including vinyl full bench seats, manual windows/locks, AM radios; features such as AM/FM radios and air conditioning were options. Alongside fleet sales, the S trim was the standard trim of

10143-425: The S-55), lasting through 1970. Mercury discontinued separate station wagon models, with the Colony Park becoming a Marquis-based station wagon. The Grand Marquis name made its first appearance in 1974 as part of an interior trim package for the Marquis Brougham. In addition to a wood-trim steering wheel, the interior was fitted with leather-and-velour split-bench seats. For 1975, all full-size Mercury sedans adopted

10290-438: The Turnpike Cruiser and Voyager; the two-door Commuter was in its final year. Mercury was one of the first American full size cars to adopt parallel-action windshield wipers. As with many medium-price brands, the Mercury brand was hit hard by the economy of the late 1950s. While remaining eighth in sales from 1957 to the end of the decade, Mercury saw a 60 percent drop in sales in 1958, outranked by Rambler . While outselling

10437-405: The United States (behind the Volkswagen Beetle ). For 1977, Mercury made significant revisions to improve sales to its intermediate model range (its slowest-selling models). While technically a mid-cycle model update, the Montego was replaced by the Cougar, with the latter offering sedan and station wagon body styles for the first time. The Cougar base coupe, sedan, and wagon were counterparts of

10584-447: The V12 engine) ended production after 1948. On November 1, 1945, the first 1946 Mercury vehicles rolled off the assembly line. In line with Lincoln and Ford (and virtually all American-manufactured vehicles), 1946 production was functionally unchanged from 1942. The Eight underwent several minor revisions, including the return of vertically oriented grille trim. As few were installed before

10731-588: The XR7 coupe. A longer-wheelbase version of the Zephyr, the Cougar XR7 was a direct counterpart of the Ford Thunderbird . Poorly received by critics and buyers, sales of the model line collapsed (to less than one-third of 1979 levels). Struggling to compete against newer designs, the aging Bobcat and Monarch were in their final years of production. 1981 saw Mercury revise its model line to combat falling sales. A standard trim of

10878-589: The aerodynamically sleeker roofline helped Mercury gain ground in stock-car racing. By the middle of the decade, the fate of Mercury was no longer entangled with the failure of Edsel, with a secure future competing against Buick and Oldsmobile, the middle of the Chrysler range, and the top of the American Motors range. For 1964, the Montclair and Park Lane were reintroduced while the S-models were dropped. For 1965,

11025-417: The average economy of all of its cars. CAFE regulations require vehicles with fewer than 75% domestic parts content to be counted as part of an automaker's imported fleet rather than a domestic one. During the 1991 retooling for production of 1992 models at its St. Thomas, Ontario facility, Ford switched a number of its parts suppliers from Canada and the United States to suppliers outside North America, bringing

11172-501: The base-trim Custom; both shared bodies with Lincoln. In 1953, the expansion of the model line proved successful; after emerging from a war-depressed market, Mercury nearly doubled in sales, ranking eighth. While Mercury would have subsequently higher yearly sales, at 5%, this is the largest market share ever held by the division. For 1954, Ford replaced the long-running Flathead V8 (dating from 1932) with an overhead-valve Y-block V8 , with Ford and Mercury receiving their own versions of

11319-514: The brand shifted to a nine-year model cycle (the longest for an American brand). With the closure of Edsel, Mercury was to share its body with Ford (on its own wheelbase). In place of the five divisional bodies produced in 1958 (Ford, Lincoln/Continental, Mercury, large Edsel, small Edsel), Ford produced two for 1961 (Ford/Mercury, Lincoln). For 1960, the division released the Comet brand, its first compact car line. Originally developed for Edsel,

11466-524: The brand, the Lynx (as an option) offered the first diesel engine for a Mercury; three and five-door hatchbacks were offered along with a five-door station wagon. For the first time, Mercury used the GS and LS trim nomenclature; in various forms, it would be used through the 2011 model year. Ford LTD Crown Victoria For 1983, Ford revised its full-size and mid-size product ranges across all three of its divisions;

11613-643: The cars of its Lincoln Motor Company division. In contrast to the comprehensive line of brands from General Motors (seven) and Chrysler Corporation (four), Ford offered its Ford Standard/DeLuxe V8 range and the Lincoln Model K . In contrast to the Ford V8, the Model K was among the most expensive vehicles built and sold in the United States, rivaled in price by the Cadillac V-12 (and V-16 ), Duesenberg Model J , and

11760-410: The decade, designers sought to give Mercury its own brand identity while maximizing production resources. Initially associated with full-size sedans and personal luxury cars, Mercury also diversified its model range. For 1980, Mercury ended the model overlap between the Marquis and Cougar, as the latter was downsized into the mid-size segment. In another change, the Cougar model range was pared down to

11907-454: The design themes of the Ford Taurus, the Grand Marquis continued with traditional styling features, such as full-width taillights, a formal roofline, and a chrome waterfall grille. The chrome waterfall grille became a signature styling feature across the Mercury product line from the late 1990s. As part of the redesign, Ford sought a new type of buyer for its full-size Mercury sedan; instead of

12054-498: The design. Coinciding with enlarged taillamps (wrapping into the fenders), the trunklid was changed in shape (with a larger license-plate opening). The grille was lowered in height and widened, integrating the headlamps and turn signal lenses into a single assembly (the Ford Blue Oval emblem was enlarged and centered). The interior underwent a separate revision; the interior received an increase of wood trim (on LX-trim models), redesigned seats with pivoting head restraints on LX models, and

12201-449: The discontinuation of the Mercury brand in 2010, but a few 2011 model-year Mercurys were made. The last Grand Marquis - and the final Mercury branded car - was produced on January 4, 2011, at St. Thomas Assembly. For the 1967 model year, Mercury introduced the Mercury Marquis two-door hardtop as a divisional counterpart of the Ford LTD . Distinguishing it from other Mercury two-door hardtops,

12348-598: The division adopted the three-model range of Ford. As its premium model range, the Montclair was introduced above the Monterey (including the Sun Valley glass-top hardtop, for its final year). The revision proved successful, as Mercury reached its then-highest sales. The divisional structure of Ford was revised; Lincoln-Mercury was split (largely to accommodate the formation of the Continental division) In 1956, Mercury renamed

12495-523: The division, Mercury refocused itself further on building high-content vehicles. 1970 marked the entry of Mercury into the subcompact segment. In place of selling its own version of the Ford Pinto, the division commenced captive imports of the Capri (European Ford Capri ) from Cologne, Germany. Slightly larger than the Pinto, the Capri was marketed as a compact sports car rather than an economy car , becoming

12642-404: The divisional structure of the company underwent further change. On October 22, 1945, Ford merged Mercury with Lincoln Motor Company, creating the combined Lincoln-Mercury Division . While functioning as a single entity, Lincoln-Mercury would continue to market both namesake model line. The Lincoln-Zephyr reentered production following the war, dropping the Zephyr nameplate; the Continental (and

12789-467: The domestic parts content of the Grand Marquis and Crown Victoria below 75%. The Grand Marquis was now part of a fleet consisting primarily of the far more fuel-efficient Ford Festiva rather than other V8-engined cars such as the Cougar and Ford Mustang. After 1996, General Motors ended production of its B-platform sedans, discontinuing the Buick Roadmaster and Chevrolet Caprice; without its closest direct competitors, Ford and Lincoln-Mercury were left with

12936-460: The doors and front and rear windows, only the bumpers are externally shared between the two model lines. After the 1987 model year, the two-door Grand Marquis was discontinued; only 4,904 were produced. In contrast to the stainless-steel band surrounding the B-pillars of the LTD Crown Victoria, the Grand Marquis was offered with multiple vinyl roof configurations, sharing the B-pillar "coach lamps" of

13083-399: The early 1980s, all three Ford divisions revised their full-size and mid-size models. For 1983, the Mercury lineup moved the Marquis nameplate to the mid-size segment (replacing the previous mid-size Cougar), introducing an all-new Cougar coupe (replacing the previous Cougar XR7), and discontinuing the Zephyr (replaced by the smaller front-wheel drive 1984 Topaz). The Grand Marquis now served as

13230-424: The engine received an OBD-I compliant Ford EEC-IV computer, raising output to 140 hp (100 kW) (155 hp (116 kW) optional). For 1986, the 5.0 L V8 underwent further revision, replacing the throttle-body fuel injection intake with a redesigned multiport "Sequential-Fire" system (distinguished by its large cast-aluminum air intake manifold), raising output to 150 hp. A dual-exhaust system

13377-502: The engine. As a submodel of the standard Monterey hardtop, the Monterey Sun Valley was introduced, featuring a fixed-panel acrylic glass sunroof. While offering an open-air interior, the Sun Valley was difficult to market in warm-weather climates (as the glass panel warmed the interior to uncomfortable temperatures). In 1955, Mercury underwent a redesign of its model line. While again sharing much of its bodyshell with Lincoln,

13524-577: The entire division overlapping Mercury in price (a key reason behind its failure). The Park Lane was introduced as a flagship model line on a 125-inch (3,200 mm) wheelbase (with the Turnpike Cruiser becoming part of the Montclair line). Shared with Lincoln (and the Ford Thunderbird), Mercury introduced a 430 cubic inches (7.0 L) "Marauder" V8; optional on all Mercurys, a 400 hp (410 PS; 300 kW) "Super Marauder" version became

13671-577: The final convertible produced by Ford Motor Company during the 1970s was a 1973 Mercury Cougar. 1974 marked several significant changes throughout the Mercury model range, transitioning towards higher-content model lines. The Cougar underwent a redesign, shifting from the Mustang chassis to the Torino/Montego chassis, becoming the counterpart of the Ford Elite ; in what would later set the design precedent for

13818-508: The financial losses, several Ford executives (led by Ford President Robert McNamara ) proposed restructuring Ford down to its namesake division. McNamara (prior to leaving Ford to become Secretary of Defense) allowed the Lincoln-Mercury division to remain, under several conditions. Lincoln reduced its model line from three to one, with the all-new Lincoln Continental offering a much smaller exterior footprint; to establish model continuity,

13965-455: The first Ford Motor Company car in North America offered with (an optional) V6 engine. While sold through Lincoln-Mercury, Capris sold in North America from 1970 to 1978 had no divisional identification. For 1971, Mercury gradually distanced itself away from performance vehicles. The Marauder and Marquis convertible were discontinued, with the Brougham name making its return. Restyled along with

14112-458: The first mass-produced engine to be rated at 400 hp (410 PS; 300 kW). For 1959, Mercury underwent a revision of its body, expanding to a 126-inch (3,200 mm) wheelbase. Coinciding with the discontinuation of the Edsel Corsair and Citation, Mercury produced its own body and chassis (for the first time since 1940). The division pared several slow-selling model lines, including

14259-665: The first-generation Plymouth Valiant ). Vehicle Identification plaques of 1960 and 1961 models read 'Made in U.S.A. by Comet.' For 1961, Mercury released an all-new full-size range, dropping the Mercury-exclusive chassis in favor of sharing a chassis with the Ford Galaxie (extended to a 120-inch wheelbase). Though visibly sharing front doors with the Galaxie, the Mercury derived multiple elements of its styling from its 1960 predecessor. The Montclair and Park Lane were dropped in favor of

14406-429: The first-generation Grand Marquis solely as a sedan in two-door and four-door configurations. For 1983 only, the Grand Marquis was offered as a station wagon (effectively a Colony Park without woodgrain trim); from 1984 onward, all full-size Mercury wagons were Colony Parks. While styled nearly identical to the LTD Crown Victoria, the first-generation Grand Marquis was three inches longer than its Ford counterpart; alongside

14553-406: The flagship lines of Mercedes-Benz and Rolls-Royce . To address the gap between Ford and Lincoln, Ford Motor Company launched its own version of the late 1920s General Motors Companion Make Program , leading the company to expand from two nameplates to five by the end of the decade. For 1936, Lincoln-Zephyr was introduced as a sub-marque of Lincoln, giving the line a V12 car competing against

14700-435: The flagship version remained the wood-trimmed LTD Country Squire, trimmed nearly identically to the LTD Crown Victoria (and the subsequent LTD Crown Victoria LX). On hiatus for the 1983 model year, a non-woodgrain station wagon returned for 1984 under the LTD Crown Victoria nameplate (the previous LTD station wagon); this version was offered in fleet (S) trim, standard trim, and LX trim. While smaller than its 1970s predecessor,

14847-404: The front fenders. Starting with the 1983 model year, the grille and taillamps were redesigned as the Grand Marquis became a distinct model line. For 1985, to lower production costs, the external "Electronic Fuel Injection" and "Automatic Overdrive" emblems were deleted (both had become standard features); for 1986, a CHMSL ( center brake light ) was introduced. For 1988, the Grand Marquis underwent

14994-443: The full-size Mercury; for the first time since 1951, Mercury produced a single full-size sedan nameplate (alongside the Colony Park station wagon). The "downsized" Grand Marquis introduced in 1979 would remain in production throughout the 1980s, as competitors such as the Buick Electra , Oldsmobile 98 , and Chrysler New Yorker (and Fifth Avenue ) were downsized further and adopted front-wheel drive. Amid these mid-tier competitors,

15141-587: The full-size line underwent a complete redesign. Though again derived from the Ford Galaxie, the Monterey/Montclair/Park Lane adopted many styling elements from Lincoln, with Mercury marketing the line as "built in the Lincoln tradition". For 1966, the Comet became the counterpart of the Ford Fairlane (effectively replacing the discontinued Meteor). After a two-year hiatus, the S-55 returned as

15288-577: The heavily marketed Edsel by over a two-to-one margin; it would take nearly 1958 and 1959 combined to match the 1957 sales total. While affecting the American automotive industry as a whole, the economic recession of the late 1950s had the harshest impact upon medium-priced brands. Though Edsel was quietly discontinued early in the 1960 model year (before the end of 1959), the future of Lincoln-Mercury remained at risk, as Lincoln had lost over $ 60 million from 1958 to 1960 ($ 617,952,756 in 2023 dollars ). To end

15435-400: The horizontal speedometer, the Grand Marquis was fitted with two square pods for the fuel gauge, warning lights, and speedometer. In 1985, the dashboard underwent several revisions. Alongside the adoption of a single-DIN radio unit (phased in across all Ford vehicles), the 8-track cassette player and CB radio options were discontinued; control of the horn shifted from the turn signal stalk to

15582-610: The late 1980s into the early 1990s, consumer demand for family vehicles transitioned from large station wagons to minivans and full-size vans, and to four-door sport-utility vehicles. Within Ford, the role of the model line was largely overtaken by the Ford Aerostar and the Ford Econoline/Club Wagon; the Country Squire also struggled to compete with the newer Ford Taurus station wagon (also sold with optional third-row seating). After

15729-472: The model line for over two decades, the Cougar was styled as a Mercury version of the Ford Thunderbird. The Montego saw a revision to its model range, as its fastback body style was discontinued. For 1975, the Mercury model range underwent a series of transitions. Following the discontinuation of the long-running Monterey, the Marquis became the sole full-size Mercury nameplate; to expand the model range,

15876-419: The model line, with load-leveling rear air suspension introduced as an option. The Grand Marquis featured front vented disc brakes and rear drum brakes. For 1986, 15-inch wheels returned as standard equipment (after having been an option since 1979). The previous standard 4.2 L (255 cu in) V8 was discontinued, and the 4.9 L (302 cu in) V8 (rounded up to "5.0 L" by Ford) became

16023-552: The modernization of the Mercury model range, marked by the introduction of the Zephyr compact, replacing the Comet. The counterpart of the Ford Fairmont , the Zephyr marked the introduction of the Fox platform , a rear-wheel drive chassis architecture that underpinned some compact and mid-size Ford and Lincoln-Mercury vehicles from the 1970s into the early 2000s. After ending the importation of

16170-571: The modestly restyled De Luxe Ford, the V8-powered Mercury was an all-new car sized between the V8 Ford and the V12 Lincoln-Zephyr. For 1939, the Mercury was launched at a starting price of US$ 916 ($ 20,064 in 2023 dollars ); over 65,800 vehicles were sold in the inaugural model year. In response to the popularity of the model line, Ford revised its branding structure after 1940; De Luxe Ford

16317-450: The older buyers who traditionally bought them, the 1992 Grand Marquis was marketed to younger buyers in need of a larger car than a Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable. The opera lamps and padded vinyl top were discontinued (the latter becoming a dealer-installed option). Aluminum alloy road wheels replaced the simulated wire wheel covers. Revisions to the suspension and steering were made to improve both ride and handling. Four-wheel disc brakes replaced

16464-493: The only visually shared body parts were the front doors and the windshield. Development began in early 1987, with a design approval in 1988, January 14, 1991, the start of production, and March 21, 1991, introduction. In line with the rest of the Ford Motor Company vehicles sold in North America, aerodynamics and fuel economy played a prominent role in designing the new Grand Marquis. Unlike the Crown Victoria, which followed

16611-465: The outboard rear seats. Ford standardized many previously optional features to streamline production costs and increase the market appeal of the decade-old model line, including power windows and locks, tilt steering, and automatic headlights (AutoLamp); air conditioning was no longer a delete option. To further reduce production costs, the LTD Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis shared a nearly identical interior (with only detail changes distinguishing

16758-451: The rear drum brakes with ABS traction control optional. As with the 1988-1991 models, the Grand Marquis was available in base-trim GS and deluxe-trim LS models. Front cornering lamps distinguish LS models. From 1992 onward, the Grand Marquis was produced solely as a four-door sedan, as the Colony Park station wagon was discontinued. Ford's Keyless Entry System became optional on lower-trim models and standard on upper-trim packages. While

16905-474: The retirement of the 8-track cassette and CB radio options. In a major functional upgrade, the controls for the horn were relocated from the turn-signal stalk to the steering-wheel hub. As a running change by the end of the model year, a center brake light was added (on the rear parcel shelf of sedans, below the rear window of station wagons). For 1987, Ford standardized an electronic dashboard clock, tinted glass, and air conditioning (the latter remained offered as

17052-453: The same powertrain as the 1995–1997 Grand Marquis, with a 4.6 L Modular V8 and a four-speed 4R70W automatic transmission. In a minor revision, several under-hood components were relocated, with the power steering reservoir attached to the engine and the coolant overflow reservoir relocated onto the radiator (both were located on a fender). In another change, the engine was converted to coil-on-plug ignition along with fail-safe cooling using

17199-456: The sole engine available through 1991. The throttle-body fuel injection engine was rated at 130 hp (97 kW; 132 PS). Starting with the 1986 model year, the engine adopted multi-port fuel injection with a cast-aluminum upper intake manifold, increasing output to 150 hp (112 kW; 152 PS). The 4.9 L (302 cu in) V8 engine were paired with the four-speed AOD overdrive automatic transmission. Mercury offered

17346-520: The standard engine, with Ford adding a 120 hp (89 kW) 4.2 L V8. Following its introduction on the Lincoln Town Car and Continental Mark VI, the LTD Crown Victoria received throttle-body "electronic central fuel injection" for the 4.9 L V8, replacing the two-barrel variable-venturi carburetor. From Lincoln, the AOD overdrive 4-speed automatic transmission was paired with the 4.2 L V8 and

17493-408: The steering wheel. As part of the 1988 revision, the interior was updated with all-new seats (distinguished by taller head restraints) and an updated dashboard (with more wood trim and revised gauges). The Grand Marquis LS received options including a JBL Audio 6-speaker AM/FM/Cassette stereo system (with a power antenna) and a heated windshield called " Instaclear ." For 1990, the interior underwent

17640-615: The style of the original 1965 Ford LTD, the LTD Crown Victoria featured a "crested" hood ornament. For 1980, Ford revised its year-old Ford LTD range, with the LTD Crown Victoria replacing the LTD Landau as its top-level trim. Along with matching the Mercury Grand Marquis directly for the first time, the LTD Crown Victoria took over for the LTD Landau as a competitor for the Chevrolet Caprice and Pontiac Bonneville , alongside

17787-410: The third-generation Grand Marquis primarily competed against its Ford Crown Victoria counterpart. They remained successful, selling over 100,000 units per year. The third-generation Grand Marquis retained the Panther chassis from its predecessors, lengthened in wheelbase to 114.7 inches. To upgrade handling stability, the triangulated four-link rear axle (in use on large Fords since 1965) was replaced by

17934-475: The trim range from the 1979-1982 LTD, the LTD Crown Victoria was initially sold in a single trim level, with the previous LTD Crown Victoria repackaged as an Interior Luxury Group option, including upgraded seats, door panels, and upgraded interior features. For 1986, the option package was reintroduced as the LTD Crown Victoria LX. Effectively serving as a direct Ford counterpart of the Grand Marquis,

18081-561: The two model lines, the Eight was given a model-specific grille, exterior and interior trim, and taillamps. For the first time, a wood-bodied station wagon was offered by the brand. Unlike Ford products where components originated from the Ford River Rouge Complex and shipped in knock-down kits to dozens of cities across the United States, all Mercury vehicles only originated completely assembled from River Rouge until 1952 when Wayne Stamping & Assembly started production and

18228-405: The two). The pivoting front head restraints on the LX models were dropped, as were the optional front pivoting vent windows, making the 1989 LTD Crown Victoria and Grand Marquis one of the last passenger cars to offer this feature. For its final year, relatively few changes were made to the LTD Crown Victoria for 1991. Ford changed the parking light lenses in color from amber to clear, last seen on

18375-573: The use of platform sharing and manufacturing commonality, Mercury vehicles shared components and engineering with Ford or Lincoln (or both concurrently), serving as counterparts for vehicles from both divisions. Following an extended decline in sales and market share for Mercury, Ford announced the closure of the division at the end of 2010. During the mid-1930s, under the leadership of Edsel Ford , Ford Motor Company discovered that it needed to expand its brand footprint to match its largest competitors. In 1935, Ford offered only its namesake brand and

18522-787: The wider-selling Monterey; the Commuter and Colony Park station wagons returned. Slotted below the Monterey, the Mercury Meteor (as with the Comet) was a model line inherited from the closure of Edsel; as the Monterey matched the Ford Galaxie, the Meteor was a counterpart of the Fairlane. 1961 also brought the first 6-cylinder engine to the brand. The 1961 Meteor 600 featured a standard Mileage Maker Inline-6. For 1962, Mercury brought its model range closer in line with Ford. The Meteor (after only one year of sale)

18669-403: The year, the one-millionth Mercury vehicle was produced. In 1951, Mercury regained an automatic transmission option (for the first time since the 1942 Liquamatic), with the " Merc-O-Matic " 3-speed automatic (a rebranding of Ford Cruise-O-Matic). For 1952, Mercury redesigned its model line, with two nameplates replacing the Eight. The Monterey returned as a distinct model line, slotted above

18816-425: Was an option with the two larger V8s. For 1982, the AOD replaced the 3-speed automatic entirely. For 1983, the engine line was revised, as Ford ended production of the 4.2 L V8 across all model lines. The 5.0 L effectively became the only engine available, as the 5.8 L carbureted V8 became restricted to fleet sales (particularly police vehicles); in Canada, it remained an option through 1991. For 1984,

18963-464: Was available as a four-door sedan for nearly its entire run; from 1988 to its final year in 2011, it was the only body style that was offered. A four-door hardtop was available from 1975 to 1978 and a two-door hardtop coupe from 1975 to 1987. The Grand Marquis was the second-best-selling Mercury line (after the Cougar ) with 2.7 million units produced; at 36 years of continuous production, the Grand Marquis

19110-407: Was better received in the marketplace than the new-for-1991 Chevrolet Caprice, its exterior design (inspired by the Ford Taurus ) was not as popularly accepted as the Grand Marquis. The Grand Marquis outsold the Crown Victoria in 1994 and 1997, despite the latter's police and fleet sales advantage. Ford took note and kept the Grand Marquis' design language in place for 1998 while bringing much of it to

19257-577: Was built at the Louisville , Los Angeles , Atlanta , and Oakville plants. By 1982, Oakville was the sole assembly location, and the following year production was added alongside the Mercury Grand Marquis at St. Louis Assembly in Hazelwood, Missouri . Canadian production shifted from Oakville to St. Thomas Assembly in Southwold, Ontario for 1984 models; the facility would become the exclusive production site

19404-416: Was designed with two different rooflines for each body configuration. The standard design was a " breezeway " reverse-slant rear window (similar to the 1958-1960 Continental), offered on all versions (except for the convertible). Introduced as a mid-year option, the "Marauder" fastback roofline was introduced for two-door sedans and hardtops (four-doors were added in 1964). Shared with the Ford Galaxie 500XL,

19551-469: Was developed to bridge the gap between the Ford Mustang and the Ford Thunderbird , while the Marquis offered the division a competitor towards sedan lines such as the Buick Electra , Oldsmobile Ninety Eight , and Chrysler New Yorker . For 1967, the Marquis was available as a formal-roof 2-door hardtop (derived from the Ford LTD , but with its own roofline); the Mercury Park Lane Brougham

19698-703: Was discontinued as a sub-marque (returning to its previous use as a Ford trim line), and all Lincolns became derived from the Lincoln-Zephyr (including the Continental) as Lincoln retired the Model K. For 1941, the Mercury underwent its first redesign; in another change, the model line adopted the Mercury Eight nameplate used in sales literature. To consolidate development and production, the Mercury Eight shared much of its bodyshell with Ford, distinguished by its 4-inch (100 mm) longer wheelbase. To further separate

19845-644: Was established to bridge the gap between the Ford and Lincoln model lines within Ford Motor Company. From 1945 until its closure, it formed half of the Lincoln-Mercury Division of the company. In addition to serving as a combined sales network for Ford's two premium automotive brands, Lincoln-Mercury also represented the Continental (1956–1960), Edsel (1958–1960, formally designated Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln Division), Comet (1960-1961), and Merkur (1985–1989, forming Lincoln-Mercury-Merkur ). Through

19992-514: Was expanded to an unnamed standard trim and the top-trim LS. The former effectively replaced the Marquis Brougham (the mid-size Marquis adopted the Brougham nameplate), and the latter was a trim designation adopted across the Mercury model line during the 1980s. As part of the 1988 model update, the standard-trim Grand Marquis became the GS (in line with the Topaz and Sable). The badging of the model line underwent

20139-465: Was introduced for 1990 as an option (adding 10 hp). For 1991, the 150 hp 5.0 L V8 remained standard, with the 180 hp 5.8 L V8 offered for fleet sales (subject to gas-guzzler taxes) and in Canada; the final American-assembled vehicles sold with a carbureted engine, the latter V8 included the Motorcraft 7200 variable-venturi carburetor in use since 1979. When introduced for the 1980 model year,

20286-454: Was offered as flagship Mercury four-door sedan/hardtop). In various forms, the Marquis nameplate would be used by Mercury until its 2011 closure. For 1968, the Mercury model range underwent two revisions to its intermediate range. The Mercury Montego (based on the Ford Torino ) was gradually phased in to replace the Comet (dropped after 1969); the performance-oriented Mercury Cyclone became

20433-416: Was offered. Though still sharing its chassis with the Mustang, the Cougar was configurable as either a pony car, personal luxury coupe, or a muscle car, with an "Eliminator" performance package featuring an available 428 Cobra Jet V8. During the 1970s, the product line of the Mercury division was influenced by several factors that affected all American nameplates. While sporty cars would not disappear from

20580-438: Was paired with single-exhaust engines; a numerically higher rear-axle ratio was used as part of the handling package. For 2000 and early 2001, a 3.55 rear axle was used; other versions used a 3.27 rear axle. Mercury (automobile) Mercury is a brand of medium-priced automobiles that was produced by American manufacturer Ford Motor Company between the 1939 and 2011 motor years. Created by Edsel Ford in 1938, Mercury

20727-511: Was reintroduced as an all-new intermediate range (again following the design of the Ford Fairlane ). For non-station wagons, Mercury introduced "S" sub-models to market sportier content. Along with higher-performance powertrains, the option packages included full-length floor consoles, floor shifters, and bucket seats with the S-22 (Comet), S-33 (Meteor), and S-55 (Monterey). For 1963, the Monterey

20874-532: Was replaced by the heavier-duty 4R70W transmission ; it was shared with the Lincoln Mark VIII and Town Car. Ford AOD-E 4-speed overdrive automatic (1993–1994) Ford 4R70W 4-speed overdrive automatic (1995–1997) While the redesigned 1992 Grand Marquis/Crown Victoria would prove more fuel-efficient than their predecessors, a loophole in CAFE regulations allowed Ford Motor Company to sell full-size cars and improve

21021-573: Was slotted above the Montclair, distinguished by its quad headlamps and retractable rear window. In line with Ford, Mercury station wagons became a distinct model line, with the Commuter , Voyager , and Colony Park ; all Mercury station wagons were hardtops. In 1958, to accommodate the introduction of Edsel, Ford revised its divisional structure, with Mercury, Edsel, and Lincoln forming a combined division (M-E-L). The Edsel Citation and Edsel Corsair shared their chassis (and roofline) with Mercury, with

21168-435: Was the basis of the 2003 and 2004 Mercury Marauder . From 1979 until 2011, the Grand Marquis shared the rear-wheel drive (RWD) Panther platform with the Ford LTD Crown Victoria ( Ford Crown Victoria after 1992), and from 1980, the Lincoln Town Car. For over three decades, the Ford and Mercury sedans were functionally identical, with two of the three generations of the model line sharing the same roofline. The Grand Marquis

21315-554: Was the first Japanese-brand sedan sold with six-passenger seating (although assembled in the United States); an extended-wheelbase version of the Camry, the Avalon was considered a full-size sedan based on its interior space. The third-generation Grand Marquis went on sale in late 1997 for the 1998 model year with an evolutionary update to the exterior and interior. While the 1992 Crown Victoria

21462-456: Was the longest-running Mercury nameplate (the Cougar, 34 years). Ford manufactured the Grand Marquis, alongside the Mercury Marquis, Mercury Marauder, Ford (LTD) Crown Victoria, and (beginning in 2007) the Lincoln Town Car, at two facilities: the St. Louis Assembly Plant in Hazelwood, Missouri (1979–1985) and the St. Thomas Assembly Plant in Southwold, Ontario , Canada (1986–2011). Ford announced

21609-515: Was the only location that created Mercury components which were sent to only three cities that had dedicated assembly branch factories that completed Mercury vehicles until 1960. This approach was also used for Lincoln vehicles which only originated from the Lincoln Motor Company Plant until 1958 when Wixom Assembly Plant replaced the old Lincoln plant and completed assembly and became the component location for all Lincoln vehicles and

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