First things first: say “MARE-koor”. Ford’s strange attempt at creating a super-Euro luxury brand by importing Federalized Sierras (the XR4Ti) and Scorpios was an attempt to jump onto the “European must be better” trend that swept America during the mid-to-late 1980s. To call it a failure is giving it credit: for five years, the brand floundered before sinking like a torpedoed ship. Nowadays, Merkurs are a curiosity for the most part, unless you’re a fan of Ford 2.3/2.9L power or simply want to know why Jeremy Clarkson hated the Ford Sierra as much as he claimed he did. As far as we’re concerned, they are a footnote in automotive history and a curiosity, but that’s about it.
The Scorpio was supposed to be a premium mid-size luxury car, a five-door hatchback that would compete with the Euro cars and the early Japanese luxury cars from Acura, Lexus and Infiniti. They failed to sell due to high cost, low power, nearly no marketing whatsoever, and America’s allergies to hatchbacks of just about any type. But one guy near Chicago really wanted this Scorpio, so on a lark, he purchased it and brought it home. One minor detail: he didn’t consult with the wife before he parked the “close to parts car” in the driveway, and as a result, the Scorpio is back on the market with a fire sale price.
For a thousand dollars, or a very interesting non-automotive trade, you can be the proud owner of an orphaned European-sourced executive sedan that needs some loving care. The seller is pretty hard on the car’s condition, but we wonder if he’s exaggerating just a bit. We’ve certainly seen worse. But while the Merkur Fan Club will cringe, we see potential for the black barge: race car. Merkurs are rear-drive, and while a turbocharged four will do the trick, what’s stopping anybody from slapping in a 5.0 and T-5, or just about any other engine, period? We aren’t even picky…any engine that will hide when the hood is shut will do! Cage it, BS about the cost, and run it in ChumpCar or LeMons while wearing a Gordon Gekko outfit!
Whatever you do, somebody go buy this brick of a Ford so this guy can sleep somewhere other than the doghouse!
Craigslist Link: 1988 Merkur Scorpio
A 351-W with a turbo to keep things quiet would do quite nicely…..
In England this was called a Ford Granada. There was one wit Shotgun power in British Pro Mod in the early ’90s – so any V8 transplant would be cool. However for the ultimate Mekur a SOHC and a T6 would take some beating. Remove the tacky plastic from the lower quarters of the body and create some metal rolled front and rear pans and fit some 17 inch wheels then you’d have the sweetest jello mould on the planet!
I’m sorry. Did he say he bought it without his wife’s permission and is now reselling it because of that?
Turn in your man card immediately!
I bet she makes you carry her purse in public too. So sad.