Categories: Automotive

January 4, 2011 – The last Mercury car

Introduced by Edsel Ford in 1938

for the 1939 model year, Mercury was promoted as a premium brand from Ford Motor Co. By filling the gap between low-priced Ford and high-priced Lincoln, Ford now had a vehicle for every budget. Following an initial push of the all new car, Mercury became an option hound. Meaning, by the 1942 model year, Mercury shared much of its body with Ford, but offered upscale trim options. Its products would essentially follow that trend for the next 70 years.

Above: 1939 Mercury ad. Top: A final generation Mercury Grand Marquis, similar to the last Mercury.

The Origins of Mercury Cars

1949 Mercury Eight

Mercury was championed by Henry Ford’s son, Edsel. Its main competitors would be General Motors’ Oldsmobile and Buick, as well as Chrysler. For the 1939 model year, nearly 66,000 Mercurys left sales lots. With a starting price of $916, equal to about $16,800 today, consumers were able to get a lot of car for decent money.

A popular redesign for 1949 kicked off a solid decade for Mercury. The next year the 1,000,000th Mercury rolled off the assembly line. As the decade progressed, the 1958 recession and the introduction of the Edsel would take a toll on Mercury sales. Though it outsold Edsel 2 to 1, it would take all of 1958 and 1959 to sell the same amount of cars as 1957.

End of the Line for Mercury Cars

Fast forward to June 2, 2010 when Mercury owned just 1 percent of the new car market in the United States. On that fateful late spring day, Ford broke the news that Mercury would be discontinued. Then, on this day in 2011, at approximately 8 am, a 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis, rolled off the St. Thomas assembly line, marking the last Mercury car ever built.

Drive History Every Day – Cord 810/812 Design – $21.99
Brian Corey

Share
Published by
Brian Corey
Tags: mercury

Recent Posts

What Happens If You Junk a Car That Still Has a Loan on It?

Junking a car already feels complicated. Add an active loan, and complexity skyrockets. Many people…

1 hour ago

Brian Wilson, Beach Boys Founder, Dies at 82 — His Music Fueled California’s Car Culture

Brian Wilson in 1965 (@brianwilsonlive on Instagram) Brian Wilson, visionary songwriter, producer and co‑founder of…

2 days ago

June 8, 1948 – The first Porsche debuts

On this day in 1948, a significant event took place in the history of Porsche…

5 days ago

June 6, 1925 – Chrysler is founded

On this day in 1925 Walter Chrysler founded Chrysler Corporation when he reorganized the Maxwell…

1 week ago

June 3, 2013 – the Legacy of Infiniti Founder Bill Bruce

Twelve years ago today, the automotive world lost one of its quieter giants. Bill Bruce,…

1 week ago

June 2, 1992 – National Corvette Museum breaks ground

By RyanEichlerNCM The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, broke ground on June 2,…

2 weeks ago