Mercury History
Added on 03-08-2006
Mercury is an American company specialized in production of passenger cars, initially founded as a division of Ford motor company. Its headquarters are located in Dearborn (state Michigan)
In 1939 Adsel Ford, the son of Henry Ford insisted on introduction of a new program of production of middle-class Ford automobiles that was supposed to “fill the gap” between the cheap Ford models and expensive Lincolns, this way competing the Buick cars of Century and Special series, as well as Oldsmobile, Pontiac and the most inexpensive Cadillac models. The new brand was named after the ancient Roman god Mercury, the patron of trade. The Mercury cars of Lincoln-Mercury division of Ford Motor Company have a higher “social status”, than the large-batch cars of Ford division.
Initially the Mercury models were manufactured mainly with cabriolet body style. They had a 8-cylinder engine and de luxe trimming. The first model was basically a modified Ford model, only with extended body length and a V-8 of a bigger volume. This novel model was so successful so it was produced unchanged until 1942. The first major change of its appearance was planned for that time, but in fact it was unnecessary, since after the war the automobiles of 1942 built were still popular, that’s why there was no need for further modernizations.
During the World War II the division produced ambulance cars and small 12-seated buses. The best example of Mercury popularity was the fact that the President of USA Truman used exclusively the cars of this brand for his trips around the country.
The next Mercury model appeared by 1949, due the 10th anniversary of the company. Initially they planned to release it under the Ford brand back in 1943 as two versions: compact (Ford Cadet) and full-size. Both versions had the same style. As a result Ford Cadet was set to production on a plant of Ford filial in France in the town of Poissy (later this filial became an enterprise of SIMCA) with the name of Ford Vendette; its extended version was set production under Mercury trademark.
In Canada the Ford trucks were released under the Mercury trademark; the Mercury automobiles were released as Monarchs (since 1946); as for Ford automobiles, they were known there as Meteors.
The Turnpike Cruiser cabriolet was an outstanding model released in 1957. This model had very extravagant exterior design.
In 70ies a full series of compact Mercuries was released, that led the company to winning new positions in the market. Today big money is spent on revising their design.
The pursuit of bigger volumes and power of engine led the firm to bankruptcy that made it reject the image formed and unify the Ford and Mercury models almost completely. Now the Mercury cars are very similar to Fords, only slightly redesigned. According to the leading marketing experts the Mercury cars are considered more prestigious than Fords, that’s why they are slightly more expensive than their ...
In 1939 Adsel Ford, the son of Henry Ford insisted on introduction of a new program of production of middle-class Ford automobiles that was supposed to “fill the gap” between the cheap Ford models and expensive Lincolns, this way competing the Buick cars of Century and Special series, as well as Oldsmobile, Pontiac and the most inexpensive Cadillac models. The new brand was named after the ancient Roman god Mercury, the patron of trade. The Mercury cars of Lincoln-Mercury division of Ford Motor Company have a higher “social status”, than the large-batch cars of Ford division.
Initially the Mercury models were manufactured mainly with cabriolet body style. They had a 8-cylinder engine and de luxe trimming. The first model was basically a modified Ford model, only with extended body length and a V-8 of a bigger volume. This novel model was so successful so it was produced unchanged until 1942. The first major change of its appearance was planned for that time, but in fact it was unnecessary, since after the war the automobiles of 1942 built were still popular, that’s why there was no need for further modernizations.
During the World War II the division produced ambulance cars and small 12-seated buses. The best example of Mercury popularity was the fact that the President of USA Truman used exclusively the cars of this brand for his trips around the country.
The next Mercury model appeared by 1949, due the 10th anniversary of the company. Initially they planned to release it under the Ford brand back in 1943 as two versions: compact (Ford Cadet) and full-size. Both versions had the same style. As a result Ford Cadet was set to production on a plant of Ford filial in France in the town of Poissy (later this filial became an enterprise of SIMCA) with the name of Ford Vendette; its extended version was set production under Mercury trademark.
In Canada the Ford trucks were released under the Mercury trademark; the Mercury automobiles were released as Monarchs (since 1946); as for Ford automobiles, they were known there as Meteors.
The Turnpike Cruiser cabriolet was an outstanding model released in 1957. This model had very extravagant exterior design.
In 70ies a full series of compact Mercuries was released, that led the company to winning new positions in the market. Today big money is spent on revising their design.
The pursuit of bigger volumes and power of engine led the firm to bankruptcy that made it reject the image formed and unify the Ford and Mercury models almost completely. Now the Mercury cars are very similar to Fords, only slightly redesigned. According to the leading marketing experts the Mercury cars are considered more prestigious than Fords, that’s why they are slightly more expensive than their ...
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