Mercury follows Pontiac and Oldsmobile into the scrapheap

[charlie]

Ford Motor Co. is preparing to phase out its 71-year old Mercury brand, adding to the list of storied Detroit nameplates that reached the end of the road in recent years as the industry has become more competitive.

Ford Chief Executive Alan Mulally and his top lieutenants have won the backing of key members of the Ford family and are expected to seek approval from the car maker's board to kill Mercury after years of dwindling sales, a person familiar with the matter said Thursday.
...

Ford officials also are engaged in an intense review of the future of Lincoln, which has struggled as well despite its fairly new line-up. A separate person familiar with the company's thinking said all options are under consideration for Lincoln, which hasn't measured up to becoming a luxury brand able to compete with Mercedes, BMW, Lexus or the revitalized Cadillac.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748704269204575270822363686774.html

[Webster Green]

1. '49

http://image.rodandcustommagazine.com/f/10742528/0812rc_13_z+1949_mercury_coupe+sam_barris_merc.jpg

[charlie]

2. That's awesomely sinister

Probably a family car, but it looks mean.

[U4ikLefty]

3. Yeah, I expect someone to come out shooting.

[givemebackmycountry]

4. I see that car and I think 'Mercury Blues" by Steve Miller and THEN...

I think ZZ TOP.

[Rick Myers]

5. Beautiful machine!!!

Want it!

[Mojorabbit]

6. I had a 56 olds rocket 88

in the 80's. It was a wonderful car.

[flvegan]

7. Not a surprise.

Not in today's market. I'm pretty surprised they carried the marque this long.

Lincoln, on the other hand, could do really well if Ford got off its collective ass and made something of it.