The Rise and Fall of Ford’s Merkur Brand: A Short-Lived European Adventure
American car enthusiasts have always had a fascination with European vehicles, and in the 1980s, that fascination reached new heights. Sensing the growing demand for sporty European machinery, Detroit decided to push some of its models in a more European direction. This is where the Merkur brand comes into play.
Ford, already a dominant force in Western Europe for decades, decided to bring over actual Euro-market machines to the United States. Thus, the Merkur brand was born, with its name derived from the German word for Mercury. Ford hoped that its European pedigree would attract American car shoppers seeking a taste of European luxury and performance.
The first Merkur model to hit the American market was the XR4Ti in 1985. It was essentially an Americanized version of the Ford Sierra XR4i, featuring a turbocharged 2.3-liter straight-four engine borrowed from the Thunderbird Turbo Coupe and Mustang Turbo. The XR4Ti was a bold move by Ford to cater to the growing demand for sporty European-inspired cars.
In 1988, the Merkur Scorpio joined the lineup, sharing its platform with the Ford Sierra. The Scorpio featured a reliable 2.9-liter Cologne pushrod V6 engine, generating 144 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. While the Cologne engine had seen extensive use in various Ford models in North America, it had a wider range of applications in Europe.
The Scorpio was available with a five-speed manual transmission as standard, but many buyers opted for the optional four-speed automatic. This particular Scorpio in Carson City, Nevada, is equipped with the optional automatic transmission, which cost an additional $550 at the time. Adjusted for inflation, the Scorpio had an MSRP of $62,292, making it a more affordable option than its European counterparts, such as the BMW 325i, Volvo 740 GLE, and Mercedes-Benz 190.
However, despite its European charm and competitive pricing, the Merkur Scorpio failed to capture the attention of American car shoppers. It was only offered for the 1988 and 1989 model years, making it one of the shortest-lived North American marques of the late 20th century.
Interestingly, the Scorpio did find some fans among the automotive community. Legendary Formula One driver, Jackie Stewart, praised the Scorpio for its comfortable back seat, highlighting its potential as a luxury sedan. The Scorpio’s durability was also put to the test, as it learned to run the curves of Germany’s Black Forest and took on long-distance journeys from Germany to Paris, showcasing its reliability.
Sadly, the Merkur brand did not achieve the success Ford had hoped for. Sales remained sluggish, and by the end of 1989, the curtain closed on the Merkur story in North America. Today, finding a Merkur Scorpio, especially one in good condition, is a rare sight. Just like this ’89 model in the car graveyard in Carson City, Nevada, these cars have become a relic of an ambitious but short-lived European adventure by Ford.