Mercury: A Carmaker Out of Orbit Quiz

Answer: 1939

The Mercury 8 had a 95-horsepower V8 engine. Edsel Ford had intended the Mercury to be a luxury division of Ford.

Answer: Cougar

The first Cougar was manufactured in 1967 as a twin to the Mustang. In 1973, it became a Thunderbird-based car as the COugar shifted from muscle car to luxury vehicle. The larger Cougar was kept until 1997, when Ford also phased out the Thunderbird. The car eventually came back in 1998 as a sport compact based on the European Mondeo and American Contour as a replacement for the Probe.

The Cougar was eventually discontinued in 2002.

Answer: Marauder

The 1963-5 Marauder came in either a sedan or hardtop coupe. The vehicle was used for NASCAR competition. The Marauder came back in 1969 as a personal luxury coupe with a 390 cubic inch V8; it was gone the next year as the market for such cars declined.

The 2003 Marauder was built on Ford's Panther platform and used a 302 horsepower, 32-valve V8. The car sold poorly and was discontinued in 2004.

Answer: True

The Bobcat was sold from 1975 to 1980. The Bobcat's engine choices were a 2.3L 4-cylinder or a 2.8L V6. The Bobcat was replaced by the Escort-based Lynx as the Pinto developed a bad reputation for its exploding fuel tanks.

Answer: Tempo

The Mercury Topaz was built from 1984 to 1994. A diesel engine was an option in the 1984-1986 Topaz, while the 3.0L Vulcan V6 was available on the 1992-1994 GS and LS and standard on the XR5 and LTS trims. The Topaz was one of the first to receive a driver's side airbag and the last to have a three-speed automatic.

Answer: Station Wagon

The Colony Park was sold from 1957 to 1991, and was based on the Lincoln Continental. Full-size station wagons fell out of favor and the Colony Park was gone when the Grand Marquis was redesigned. Early Colony Parks featured 400 and 460 cubic inch engines, while the final generation started with a 351 cubic inch V8 before downsizing to a 302 cubic inch engine.

Answer: Capri

The first Capri (1970-1977) was manufactured in Germany as a coupe until 1974, then as a hatchback. Early Capris had overhead cam four-cylinder engine; a pushrod Cologne V6 was added in 1972. The 1979-1986 Capri was built on the Fox platform used on the Mustang.

A V8 engine was available. The 1991-1994 Capri was built in Australia and based on the Mazda 323. Ironically, the Capri was intended to rival the Mazda Miata. The base Capri had a 1.6L DOHC 100-horsepowere 4-cylinder engine and the XR2 had a 132 horsepower unit.

The Capri was delayed in coming to America after US regulations forced the addition of an airbag, something not featured in Australian vehicles at the time.

Answer: Marquis

The Marquis was built from 1967 to 1986. The Marquis started out as a two-door coupe and for years, V8 engine were the only ones available. The 1979-1982 was built on the Panther platform and the 1983-86 vehicle was a Fox platform. The final edition of the Marquis had the choice of a 2.3L Lima four-cylinder, 3.3L "Mileage Maker" V6, or a 3.8L Essex V6; a 5.0L Windsor V8 was sold only in the Canadian market Marquis LTS.

Answer: False

The front-wheel drive Villager was introduced in 1993 as a joint venture between Ford and Nissan. The Villager's twin was the Nissan Quest. Ford did not introduce the Windstar until 1994. The first-generation Villager was bilt from 1993 to 1998 and came in GS, LS, and Nautica trim.

The Nautica mode had Captain's chairs, a two-toned paint scheme, and a yellow pinstripe. The second generation lasted from 1999 until 2002. Mercury then tried again when its successor, the Monterey, which was based on the Ford Freestar.

The vehicle was manufactured from 2004 to 2007.

Answer: Four

Mercury's 2010 lineup had the midsize Milan, full-size Grand Marquis, Mariner compact SUV, and Mountaineer midsize SUV. Sales for the Mercury had declined to less than a one percent market share and ninety thousand vehicles a year when Ford announced the closure of Mercury.