Merkur?

[w.a.nelson]

Anyone remember the Merkur brand?

XR4Ti. Actually not a bad little car, but wrong car, wrong time from a market perspective. Also, Lincoln-Mercury did not do a stellar job of marketing sports cars. ( See Capri, Pantera )

Anyway, in digging through some old stuff, I discovered a VHS marketing tape for the XR4Ti. Narrated in part by Sir Jackie. ( Unfortunately he did not drive it.) If there's a diehard Merkur fan out there, I'd be happy to send you the tape.

 

[NorthwoodGT]

I drove a fuel injected/turbo charged prototype at Ford. absolute rocket!! yes, wrong marketing strategy and timing. to bad.

 

[w.a.nelson]

I think the power train was the same, or close to, what I had in my 1987 T'Bird Turbo Coupe. Was my daily driver in Puerto Rico, and a really fun car.

 

[Simon]

What is a VHS tape?

 

[Specracer]

One of my closest friend's dad had 2 of them. Back when they were in production. They were indeed very nice cars. They were similar to an SVO mustang, took an educated car guy to "get it". Stout torque steer however.

 

[ByeEnzo]

First car I bought out of medical school. 1986 XR4Ti. I was an intern at Parkland hospital in Dallas, Texas. It got totaled in a chain reaction, 6 car, fender bender 4 years later. Unitized body. Definitely a cool car. Called the Sierra Cosworth in UK. I was just looking at them on line the other day.

 

[digman1]

First car I bought out of medical school. 1986 XR4Ti. I was an intern at Parkland hospital in Dallas, Texas. It got totaled in a chain reaction, 6 car, fender bender 4 years later. Unitized body. Definitely a cool car. Called the Sierra Cosworth in UK. I was just looking at them on line the other day.

Did you write any songs from your Parkland days, like you friend Dr. Buz did ? Baby ain't got no tan line, is my favorite from them. Brown Brown Brown all the way down !

 

[Sinovac]

I remember those. I test drove one. Neat car. Can you say turbo l-aaaaaaaaaaaaaa-g?

 

[roketman]

No
But I have a focus RS!

 

[SYCO GT]

Definitely remember those back in the day. My High School Psychology teacher owned one, loved it, and daily drove it. I remember thinking it was pretty unique. He was the only person I knew that ever owned one, but used to occasionally see them around, but then they all seem to have fully disappeared from the face of the earth!

 

[w.a.nelson]

Hmm, having difficulty locating today's Petersen unveiling stream / video...

Is anyone able to view it currently, or have a direct / recommended link? (I am at the Petersen Automotive YouTube page from the link but do not see it yet).

 

[w.a.nelson]

Ooops!

Don't know where that came from.

I guess it really is true that if you don't know what you are doing, don't try.

Was trying to reply to SYCO GT.

Would be interesting to know how many they actually sold in the US. I agree that they seem to have all gone to the great junkyard in the sky. Car would probably bring a lot of interest/curiosity at a cars and coffee.

 

[Cobrar]

One of my closest friend's dad had 2 of them. Back when they were in production. They were indeed very nice cars. They were similar to an SVO mustang, took an educated car guy to "get it". Stout torque steer however.

remember the version with the bi-plane spoiler?

 

[Specracer]

Absolutely, his 1st one was white, earlier, and had the dual plane wing (again another SVO tie in). The second was bright red, and later, of not the last year with a boring wing.

remember the version with the bi-plane spoiler?

 

[Sinovac]

remember the version with the bi-plane spoiler?

You mean the spoilers that looked like something from a Salvador Dali painting after several years?

 

[Cobrar]

European versions received the ‘Viagra Update’. (Center Support Post)

 

[SYCO GT]

remember the version with the bi-plane spoiler?

That's the ONLY version I remember. Felt that was signature for the car. Didn't even realize there were other versions, or have since forgotten.

 

[SYCO GT]

Ooops!
I guess it really is true that if you don't know what you are doing, don't try.

I think if at any point in time you hit the quote button, it saves that quote [forever] until you hit attach quotes. Then it brings up any attach quotes in the buffer, all at the same time. A feature likely designed for quoting multiple sources.

 

[w.a.nelson]

"Attach" vs "Quote"

I think I got it.

Will try again when the need/nerve arises.

Thanks.

( Would love to see a Rally where we can put all the #98s together )

 

[Pat Milliken Ford]

I always liked those. My dad had some hopped versions when he worked for Ford in England; Cosworth Sierras. They were quick!