Once Mercury made some nice cars...
Ford's Mercury semi-luxury brand is to be wound down by autumn this year, the US car maker announced yesterday.
The 21st century hasn't been kind to US marques, with the so-called 'Big Three' of Ford, GM and Chrysler mercilessly shedding sub-brands and offshoots in a bid to survive.
But while most European brands have been sold off (Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin, Volvo and Saab), US marques have been culled. In this way the world has seen the recent demise of Saturn, Oldsmobile, Hummer and Pontiac. Now Mercury joins that list.
...now - er - not so much
Mercury has hardly been an inspirational brand in recent times, however. Its entire range now consists of barely warmed-over rebadged Fords, and sales have dwindled from their 1978 peak of 579,498 units to just 92,299 cars last year - so perhaps its death is more of a mercy killing.
Still, now is probably the appropriate time to doff a cap the 71-year-old marque's more impressive performance offerings, of which the 1967 Mercury Cougar (top pic) has to be a highlight.
We've posted a selection of some of Mercury's more interesting and muscular creations below. Let's remember the brand that way...
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