In what has to be the least shocking rumor regarding the closing of an automotive brand, Ford seem to be getting ready to close down Mercury for good. Making up only about 6% of Ford’s sales and having zero identity of its own, Mercury’s time has come. Mercury has really lacked any sort of individual personality for more than 20 years. Any residual sales coming from owners who had a loyalty to Mercury have pretty much dried up.

There have been more than a few BangShift approved Mercs produced over the years and the legacy of the brand amongst car enthusiasts will live a long life. There is no more quintessential tail dragger than an early 1950s Mercury and the fact that the Comet had such an integral part in the evolution and amazing popularity explosion of the Funny Car will never be lost. 

For us, there is none of the teeth gnashing, stomach turning, angst that came with the news of Pontiac being zapped. There was still some life left in Pontiac, but Mercury is a dead man walking, both literally and figuratively.

Mercury is the latest in a long line of brands which were doomed decades ago by “badge engineering” and hideous corporate decision making. 

Source — NYTimes.com — Dealers Brace for Ford to Phase Out Mercury