Humans have always been fascinated with the heavens; whether through astronomy or astrology, men and women have looked to the skies and felt the influence of these paradoxical objects — stars and planets that appear incredibly small, but turn out to be fantastically large; it’s no wonder that even as the world changed from the horse and carriage era to the era of automobiles, that these manufacturers would want to incorporate the heavens into their Earth-bound vehicles.
In the 1930s, when interest in the solar system was growing, Edsel Ford, the son of Henry Ford, introduced a brand to be placed between the Ford Deluxes and the Lincoln Zephyrs. The new brand was known as Mercury , after the Roman mythological god, but also after the sun’s closest-orbiting planet . Later models in the Mercury line bear out this astronomical relationship, with the introduction of cars such as the Mercury Comet and the Mercury Meteor. Still later, the Mercury line began to reflect a more down-to-earth relationship with such vehicles as the Cougar and the Mustang. The first of these vehicles, though, the 1939 Mercury Eight, was a hit, selling 155,000 vehicles in the early 1940s.
In the 21st Century, Ford announced it would stop producing Mercury vehicles, pulling to a close in 2010 the 71 year history of this particular car-making venture. However, any owners of Mercury vehicles, especially those who need to consult their Chiltons or review their Mercury repair manual , should not worry. Ford also said existing owners will continue to have access to parts and services through the Ford and Lincoln dealerships, and that current warranties will be honored.
