Is Mercury a Ford?
No, Mercury is not a Ford. Mercury was an American automobile brand that was owned and operated by the Ford Motor Company, but it was a separate brand from Ford. Mercury vehicles were typically positioned as more upscale and luxurious than their Ford counterparts.
The History of Mercury
Mercury was founded in 1938 as a mid-price brand to slot between Ford's affordable models and Lincoln's luxury vehicles. The first Mercury model, the Mercury Eight, was introduced in 1939 and was designed to appeal to consumers who wanted something more premium than a Ford but couldn't quite afford a Lincoln.
Over the decades, Mercury offered a range of sedans, coupes, convertibles, and station wagons, many of which shared platforms and components with Ford models. However, Mercury vehicles typically had more distinctive styling, more powerful engines, and additional features and amenities compared to their Ford counterparts.
The Decline and Discontinuation of Mercury
Mercury's sales and popularity began to decline in the 1970s and 1980s as the brand struggled to differentiate itself from Ford. In the 2000s, Ford made several attempts to revive the Mercury brand, but these efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.
- In 2010, Ford announced that it would be discontinuing the Mercury brand, citing declining sales and a desire to focus on the Ford and Lincoln brands.
- The last Mercury model, the Mercury Grand Marquis, was produced in 2011, marking the end of the brand's 73-year history.
Today, Mercury is no longer an active automotive brand, and Ford's lineup consists solely of Ford and Lincoln models.
