How many Ford Tempo were made?
About 2.3 million Ford Tempos were produced for the North American market between 1984 and 1994; figures vary slightly by source and whether the closely related Mercury Topaz is included in the total.
Scope, timeline, and counting methods
The Ford Tempo was introduced in 1984 as a front-wheel-drive compact sedan designed to compete with other popular models of the era. It remained in production through the 1994 model year in North America, with a badge-engineered sibling, the Mercury Topaz, sold alongside it. Because production records are dispersed across company archives and automotive reference works, counts can differ depending on whether Topaz variants are included in the Tempo total and whether regional production in Canada is counted separately.
Production totals and variants
Before listing the commonly cited figures, note that estimates vary based on the source and counting method.
- Tempos alone: roughly 2.0–2.3 million units were produced for the North American market.
- Tempo plus Mercury Topaz (combined): some catalogs and references place the total in the vicinity of 2.9–3.2 million units, depending on whether counting includes Canadian production and badge-engineered variants.
These ranges reflect differences in archival records and how the Tempo and its Topaz counterpart are counted in different datasets. The core takeaway is that Tempos were produced in the low-to-mid millions, with the Topaz adding a significant but separate tally in many tallies.
Tempo vs. Mercury Topaz
The Mercury Topaz was a badge-engineered counterpart of the Ford Tempo, produced to offer Mercury customers a similar compact sedan under a distinct brand. Because some production totals aggregate Tempo and Topaz together, the combined figure can mislead if one only wants Tempos as a standalone model. Understanding the distinction helps clarify why production counts vary across sources.
Additional notes on verification
Manufacturing records are not always publicly published in a single, definitive source, and regional variations can affect totals. Automotive historians and reference guides often rely on factory data, registry tallies, and era-era press materials, which can yield slightly different numbers.
In summary, the best-supported figure for Ford Tempos alone is about 2.3 million units, with the broader Tempo/Topaz family approaching around 3 million when combined counts are used. The exact number depends on how the data is aggregated and which regional counts are included.
Summary: The Ford Tempo saw production in the low-to-mid millions during its 1984–1994 run, with estimates commonly cited around 2.0–2.3 million Tempo units and up to about 3.0–3.2 million when including Mercury Topaz variants. If you need a precise figure for a specific region or dataset, consult Ford archival materials or contemporary automotive reference catalogs for the model years in question.
What year did they make the Ford Tempo?
The Ford Tempo was produced for the model years 1984 through 1994. It was available as both a two-door coupe and a four-door sedan during its production run.
- Production run: 1984–1994
- Body styles: Two-door coupe and four-door sedan
- Successor: The Ford Contour replaced the Tempo after the 1994 model year, according to Classic.com.
How many Ford Tempos were sold?
Production figures
| Coupe | Yearly total | |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 72,311 | 339,087 |
| 1986 | 69,101 | 277,671 |
| 1987 | 70,164 | 282,632 |
| Total | 318,641 | 1,301,604 |
Is the Ford Tempo a collectors item?
Collector's Information: Assessing Value and Rarity
Today, while not commonly seen as a collector's item due to its mass production (with millions manufactured), well-preserved examples of the 1987 Ford Tempo can evoke nostalgia and interest among enthusiasts of 80s Americana.
How much is a 1994 Ford Tempo worth?
The value of a used 1994 Ford Tempo ranges from $854 to $4,143, based on vehicle condition, mileage, and options. Get a free appraisal here.
