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Mercury Monarch

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The Mercury Monarch is a compact automobile that was marketed by the Mercury division of Ford from the 1975 to 1980 model years. Designed as the original successor for the Mercury Comet , the Monarch was marketed as a luxury compact vehicle ; alongside its Ford Granada counterpart, the Monarch expanded the segment in the United States as automakers responded to the 1973 fuel crisis.

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63-820: Taking its name from a former marque of Ford Canada , the Mercury Monarch was slotted between the compact Comet and the Montego in the Mercury model line (later, the Zephyr and Cougar). Sharing many of its chassis underpinnings with the Comet, the Monarch marked the final evolution of the 1960-1965 Ford Falcon chassis architecture. The Monarch was also the counterpart of the 1977-1980 Lincoln Versailles sedan. In total, 575,567 Monarchs were produced. Ford assembled

126-480: A CHMSL ( center brake light ) was introduced. For 1988, the Grand Marquis underwent a mid-cycle revision, with restyled front and rear fascias, better integrating the bumpers into the bodywork. To save weight, steel bumpers were replaced by aluminum. From 1979 to 1991, the Grand Marquis sedan was offered solely as a six-passenger sedan with a front bench seat . While mostly similar to its Ford counterpart,

189-717: A V8 engine; the GM competitors were downsized to a smaller, front-whel-drive platform for 1985, while Chrysler got out of the traditional full-size market in 1981. Only the full-size GM station wagons carried on as direct competitors to the Mercury Colony Park wagon during the late 1980s. Along with its stablemates, the Ford LTD Crown Victoria and Lincoln Town Car, the Grand Marquis received a light refresh in 1988 that included more rounded front and rear fascias and other subtle updates inside and out. In 1990,

252-527: A driver's side airbag was introduced as standard equipment to comply with new federal safety regulations. By 1991, the final year for this generation of Grand Marquis, the only other full-size vehicle to offer both a sedan and wagon variant was the freshly redesigned 1991 Chevy Caprice; the corporate cousin of the Caprice, the Buick Roadmaster, wouldn't offer a sedan until the 1992 model year, while

315-548: A dual-exhaust system that raised engine output to 210 hp (157 kW; 213 PS), was optional. It was essentially the counterpart to the Ford Crown Victoria Touring Sedan. All models of the Grand Marquis were coupled to a 4-speed automatic transmission. For 1993, the hydraulically controlled AOD transmission was replaced by the electronically controlled AOD-E transmission. In 1995, the AOD-E

378-585: A dual-speed electric fan. For 1998, the standard-equipment V8 (with single exhaust) was increased in output to 200 hp (149 kW; 203 PS) (from 190). The handling suspension package continued in production, paired with the dual-exhaust version of the 4.6 L V8, producing 215 hp (160 kW; 218 PS). For 2001, the engine received redesigned cylinder heads and a new intake manifold called "Performance Improved" (P.I.), which increased horsepower to 220 and 235 hp (164 and 175 kW; 223 and 238 PS), respectively. A 2.73 rear-axle ratio

441-477: A four-link rear axle with a Watt's linkage , though a solid rear axle was retained. To improve braking, the four-wheel disc brakes were given dual-piston calipers for the front rotors, requiring 16-inch wheels. ABS was initially standard for 1998, then became optional in 2001, and again became standard in 2002. The traction control (which remained an option) was revised to work at any speed (rather than only low speeds). The third-generation Grand Marquis retained

504-461: A highly profitable market niche essentially to themselves; however, several competitors began to introduce competitive vehicles in the segment. Replacing the outdated Imperial and Fifth Avenue , the 1994 Chrysler New Yorker (bench seat) and LHS (bucket seats) were the first Chrysler sedans to match the interior dimensions of the Grand Marquis since the 1970s. For 1995, the Toyota Avalon

567-463: A key attribute. Originally developed as an extensively updated Mercury Comet for the 1975 model year, the more upscale redesign was instead renamed Mercury Monarch. The Ford division also introduced its own redesigned Maverick, the Granada. As Ford Motor Company predicted the compact segment would grow in sales, the existing Comet/Maverick would remain in production. To differentiate Granada/Monarch from

630-534: A number of ways. Using the Mercedes-Benz 280 as a benchmark for its styling and interior packaging, the Monarch abandoned the Coke bottle styling of the Comet for straighter-edged body panels. In the front, the Monarch adapted much of the styling of Mercury's large full size Marquis (with the exception of single exposed headlights). While the roofline of the four-door model was heavily influenced by Mercedes-Benz,

693-512: A product to sell above its Ford-badged models, in the medium-price field. Ford of Canada also built the Meteor range for its Lincoln-Mercury dealers to sell below its Mercury -badged models. This was typical practice in the Canadian market, where smaller towns might have only a single dealer who was expected to offer a full range of products in various price classes. The Monarch line of vehicles

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756-590: Is an automobile that was produced by Mercury from the 1975 until 2011 model years. Introduced as the flagship sub-model of the Mercury Marquis in 1975, the Grand Marquis became a stand-alone model line in 1983, serving as the largest Mercury sedan. The model line served as the sedan counterpart of the Mercury Colony Park station wagon up to 1991. The fourth generation was the basis of the 2003 and 2004 Mercury Marauder . From 1979 until 2011,

819-534: The 1979 Grand Marquis offered more interior and luggage space. Alongside the extensive downsizing of the model line, the Ford LTD Crown Victoria was introduced for the 1980 model year, serving as the first direct divisional counterpart of the Grand Marquis. Both vehicles shared nearly identical exterior designs except for front and rear fascias. During the early 1980s, all three Ford divisions revised their full-size and mid-size models. For 1983,

882-476: The 1979 model year. While the chassis was retained, the body was all-new. After thirteen years on the market, the full-size sedans from Mercury and Ford were struggling against far more modern competition. Additionally, as an unintentional consequence of years of badge engineering , the Grand Marquis and its LTD Crown Victoria counterpart were left as virtual identical twins. The Grand Marquis and Ford Crown Victoria (no longer an LTD model) were given different bodies;

945-565: The American automotive industry, the Lincoln Versailles was withdrawn during the 1980 model year. Monarch (marque) Monarch was an automobile marque produced by Ford Canada from 1946 through 1957 and from 1959 to 1961. The Monarch was marketed as its own brand of car rather than as a Ford, with its own model names which included Richelieu, Lucerne and Sceptre. The Monarch was introduced on 23 March 1946. Based on

1008-540: The Colony Park station wagon). The "downsized" Grand Marquis introduced in 1979 would remain in production throughout the 1980s, as competitors such as the Buick Electra , Oldsmobile 98 , and Chrysler New Yorker (and Fifth Avenue ) were downsized further and adopted front-wheel drive. Amid these mid-tier competitors, the Grand Marquis eventually became the only option on the market with rear-wheel drive and

1071-484: The Crown Victoria to pivot away from 1992 to the 1997 "Aero" look. To streamline production, Ford and Mercury returned to a shared rear roofline between the two model lines, using the formal rear styling of the Grand Marquis; the configuration would remain in use through the end of production in 2011. With General Motors' full-size B-body vehicles discontinued in 1996 to focus on more profitable SUVs and trucks,

1134-495: The Crown Victoria, which followed the design themes of the Ford Taurus, the Grand Marquis continued with traditional styling features, such as full-width taillights, a formal roofline, and a chrome waterfall grille. The chrome waterfall grille became a signature styling feature across the Mercury product line from the late 1990s. As part of the redesign, Ford sought a new type of buyer for its full-size Mercury sedan; instead of

1197-474: The Ford Granada, the Mercury Monarch shared its unibody chassis with its Ford Maverick/Mercury Comet predecessors. Based heavily on the first-generation Ford Falcon from 1960, the design utilized coil spring front suspension with a leaf-sprung live rear axle; due to its Falcon origins, the Monarch was also loosely mechanically related to the first-generation Ford Mustang and Mercury Cougar. The base engine

1260-551: The Grand Marquis retained the suspension design with a live rear axle suspension and double wishbone independent front suspension , with coil springs at all four wheels. In 1985, gas-charged shock absorbers were standardized for the model line, with load-leveling rear air suspension introduced as an option. The Grand Marquis featured front vented disc brakes and rear drum brakes. For 1986, 15-inch wheels returned as standard equipment (after having been an option since 1979). The previous standard 4.2 L (255 cu in) V8

1323-576: The Grand Marquis shared the rear-wheel drive (RWD) Panther platform with the Ford LTD Crown Victoria ( Ford Crown Victoria after 1992), and from 1980, the Lincoln Town Car. For over three decades, the Ford and Mercury sedans were functionally identical, with two of the three generations of the model line sharing the same roofline. The Grand Marquis was available as a four-door sedan for nearly its entire run; from 1988 to its final year in 2011, it

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1386-637: The Grand Marquis was expanded to an unnamed standard trim and the top-trim LS. The former effectively replaced the Marquis Brougham (the mid-size Marquis adopted the Brougham nameplate), and the latter was a trim designation adopted across the Mercury model line during the 1980s. As part of the 1988 model update, the standard-trim Grand Marquis became the GS (in line with the Topaz and Sable). The badging of

1449-677: The Grand Marquis, alongside the Mercury Marquis, Mercury Marauder, Ford (LTD) Crown Victoria, and (beginning in 2007) the Lincoln Town Car, at two facilities: the St. Louis Assembly Plant in Hazelwood, Missouri (1979–1985) and the St. Thomas Assembly Plant in Southwold, Ontario , Canada (1986–2011). Ford announced the discontinuation of the Mercury brand in 2010, but a few 2011 model-year Mercurys were made. The last Grand Marquis - and

1512-569: The Lincoln Continental), hidden headlights were standard. The model line included the 460 cu in (7.5 L) V8. A 400 cu in (6.6 L) V8 became standard for 1976 and 1977, with a 351 cu in (5.8 L) V8 becoming standard for 1978 (except in California, where the 400 V8 was standard). Through 1978, the 460 V8 was optional. All engines were paired with a three-speed automatic transmission. Shared with

1575-557: The Lincoln Continental, four-wheel disc brakes were optional. For the 1979 model year, the full-size Mercury model line was downsized. The Grand Marquis returned as the premium model of the Mercury Marquis model range. The cars were seventeen inches shorter and nearly 1,000 pounds lighter (dependent on powertrain) than their 1978 predecessor. While its exterior footprint closely matched the Cougar (Montego) intermediate sedan,

1638-621: The Marquis Brougham and the Lincoln Continental, the Mercury Grand Marquis gave the division a vehicle to compete against premium medium-brand sedans, including the Buick Electra 225 , Oldsmobile Ninety Eight , and the Chrysler New Yorker Brougham . The Grand Marquis was offered in either a four-door "pillared hardtop" sedan or a two-door hardtop sedan body style; as with the Marquis and Colony Park (and

1701-527: The Marquis Brougham. In addition to a wood-trim steering wheel, the interior was fitted with leather-and-velour split-bench seats. For 1975, all full-size Mercury sedans adopted the Marquis nameplate, as the division retired the Monterey (in use since 1950). To expand the model range, the Grand Marquis became the highest-trim Marquis (slotted above the Brougham). Bridging the price and content gap between

1764-632: The Maverick/Comet, Ford offered the new-generation compact-segment vehicles with a higher than usual level of equipment, comfort and convenience features. Although General Motors had earlier introduced the Buick Apollo (later Skylark) and Oldsmobile Omega in 1973, the Granada/Monarch became one of the few vehicles that would break a long-standing tradition within American auto manufacturers of associating size with luxury. As with

1827-761: The Mercury Grand Monarch Ghia as their personal car. Other standard Grand Monarch Ghia features included: For 1977, the Grand Monarch Ghia was withdrawn and repackaged as the Lincoln Versailles . Intended as a response to the Cadillac Seville , the Versailles adopted much of the content of the Grand Monarch Ghia with a slightly restyled exterior. Among the most controversial examples of badge engineering in

1890-419: The Mercury lineup moved the Marquis nameplate to the mid-size segment (replacing the previous mid-size Cougar), introducing an all-new Cougar coupe (replacing the previous Cougar XR7), and discontinuing the Zephyr (replaced by the smaller front-wheel drive 1984 Topaz). The Grand Marquis now served as the full-size Mercury; for the first time since 1951, Mercury produced a single full-size sedan nameplate (alongside

1953-606: The Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser was strictly available as a wagon for its brief run in 1991 and 1992. The first-generation Grand Marquis was built on the rear-wheel drive Ford Panther platform . While Ford and Mercury sedans had shared common chassis underpinnings since 1961, the Panther chassis marked the first time the two model lines shared the same wheelbase with the Mercury downsized from 124 to 114.3 in (3,150 to 2,903 mm). Although reduced in size,

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2016-485: The Panther platform was carried over from 1991, an all-new engine would be used for the 1992 Grand Marquis. The replacement for the OHV 5.0 L and 5.8 L Windsor V8s, the 190 hp (142 kW; 193 PS) 4.6 L SOHC Modular V8 engine was the first overhead-cam V8 to appear in an American-market full-size sedan. An optional handling package, including a heavy-duty suspension, 3.27 rear-axle (instead of 2.73), and

2079-480: The average economy of all of its cars. CAFE regulations require vehicles with fewer than 75% domestic parts content to be counted as part of an automaker's imported fleet rather than a domestic one. During the 1991 retooling for production of 1992 models at its St. Thomas, Ontario facility, Ford switched a number of its parts suppliers from Canada and the United States to suppliers outside North America, bringing

2142-543: The center rear trim panel was changed to a new design with an argent finish on base models or a matching red reflector on top trim levels. On the inside, in contrast from other Lincoln-Mercury cars, the Monarch was equipped with front bucket seats. While a feature associated with sporty cars at the time, the individual seats (from the European Ford Granada ) were chosen for their support and range of adjustment. Unlike its fully instrumented European competitors,

2205-560: The contemporary Mercury , it had Canadian market-specific trim, unique grilles, taillights and other trim to marginally differentiate them from their Mercury relatives. Initially marketed simply as the Monarch, later model names included Richelieu, Lucerne and Sceptre. These were variations of the Mercury Eight (later the Monterey ), Montclair and Park Lane models, respectively. The Monarch line provided Canadian Ford dealerships

2268-442: The dashboard of the Grand Marquis was trimmed with brushed stainless steel; in place of the horizontal speedometer, the Grand Marquis was fitted with two square pods for the fuel gauge, warning lights, and speedometer. In 1985, the dashboard underwent several revisions. Alongside the adoption of a single-DIN radio unit (phased in across all Ford vehicles), the 8-track cassette player and CB radio options were discontinued; control of

2331-468: The domestic parts content of the Grand Marquis and Crown Victoria below 75%. The Grand Marquis was now part of a fleet consisting primarily of the far more fuel-efficient Ford Festiva rather than other V8-engined cars such as the Cougar and Ford Mustang. After 1996, General Motors ended production of its B-platform sedans, discontinuing the Buick Roadmaster and Chevrolet Caprice; without its closest direct competitors, Ford and Lincoln-Mercury were left with

2394-506: The final Mercury branded car - was produced on January 4, 2011, at St. Thomas Assembly. For the 1967 model year, Mercury introduced the Mercury Marquis two-door hardtop as a divisional counterpart of the Ford LTD . Distinguishing it from other Mercury two-door hardtops, the Marquis included a standard vinyl roof and upright rear side windows that were similar to the Cougar. For 1969, the division revised its full-size range. The Monterey

2457-422: The first-generation Grand Marquis underwent minor changes. For 1982, simulated vents were removed from the front fenders. Starting with the 1983 model year, the grille and taillamps were redesigned as the Grand Marquis became a distinct model line. For 1985, to lower production costs, the external "Electronic Fuel Injection" and "Automatic Overdrive" emblems were deleted (both had become standard features); for 1986,

2520-541: The first-generation Grand Marquis was three inches longer than its Ford counterpart; alongside the doors and front and rear windows, only the bumpers are externally shared between the two model lines. After the 1987 model year, the two-door Grand Marquis was discontinued; only 4,904 were produced. In contrast to the stainless-steel band surrounding the B-pillars of the LTD Crown Victoria, the Grand Marquis

2583-406: The four-speed AOD overdrive automatic transmission. Mercury offered the first-generation Grand Marquis solely as a sedan in two-door and four-door configurations. For 1983 only, the Grand Marquis was offered as a station wagon (effectively a Colony Park without woodgrain trim); from 1984 onward, all full-size Mercury wagons were Colony Parks. While styled nearly identical to the LTD Crown Victoria,

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2646-432: The horizontal speedometer used by Ford (using a silver background); for the first time, a temperature gauge was included alongside the fuel gauge. From 1979 to 1982, the Grand Marquis returned as a sub-model of the Mercury Marquis model line. Marketed as the flagship Mercury nameplate, the Grand Marquis competed against the Buick Electra , Oldsmobile 98 , and Chrysler New Yorker (and New Yorker Fifth Avenue ). For 1983,

2709-433: The horn shifted from the turn signal stalk to the steering wheel. As part of the 1988 revision, the interior was updated with all-new seats (distinguished by taller head restraints) and an updated dashboard (with more wood trim and revised gauges). The Grand Marquis LS received options including a JBL Audio 6-speaker AM/FM/Cassette stereo system (with a power antenna) and a heated windshield called " Instaclear ." For 1990,

2772-424: The interior underwent a second major revision. To comply with passive-restraint regulations, the Grand Marquis was given a driver-side airbag; the rear outboard seats received 3-point seatbelts. Coinciding with the addition of the airbag, a new steering column consolidated the turn signal and windshield wiper controls onto a single stalk; tilt steering became standard. The dashboard was completely redesigned, adopted

2835-608: The model line alongside the Granada at Mahwah Assembly ( Mahwah, New Jersey ) and Wayne Stamping & Assembly ( Wayne, Michigan ). For 1981, the Monarch was discontinued after a single generation, with the Mercury counterpart of the Granada taking on the Cougar (and ultimately, Marquis) nameplate. The Mercury Monarch was developed as external circumstances outside of Ford Motor Company's control forced major changes in consumer buying habits. The 1973 fuel crisis and new engine power sapping emissions standards would lead to buyers valuing luxury over performance, with fuel economy becoming

2898-608: The model line underwent a revision, as the script lettering used since its 1975 introduction was replaced by block-style lettering (in the style of the Sable, Topaz, and Tracer); the Lincoln-style hood ornament was replaced by a version with the Mercury "flying M" badge," which were added to the trunk lid and wheels. Unveiled on November 28, 1990, for the 1992 model year , both Ford and Mercury Panther-platform cars underwent their most extensive changes since their introduction for

2961-452: The older buyers who traditionally bought them, the 1992 Grand Marquis was marketed to younger buyers in need of a larger car than a Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable. The opera lamps and padded vinyl top were discontinued (the latter becoming a dealer-installed option). Aluminum alloy road wheels replaced the simulated wire wheel covers. Revisions to the suspension and steering were made to improve both ride and handling. Four-wheel disc brakes replaced

3024-531: The only visually shared body parts were the front doors and the windshield. Development began in early 1987, with a design approval in 1988, January 14, 1991, the start of production, and March 21, 1991, introduction. In line with the rest of the Ford Motor Company vehicles sold in North America, aerodynamics and fuel economy played a prominent role in designing the new Grand Marquis. Unlike

3087-451: The rear drum brakes with ABS traction control optional. As with the 1988-1991 models, the Grand Marquis was available in base-trim GS and deluxe-trim LS models. Front cornering lamps distinguish LS models. From 1992 onward, the Grand Marquis was produced solely as a four-door sedan, as the Colony Park station wagon was discontinued. Ford's Keyless Entry System became optional on lower-trim models and standard on upper-trim packages. While

3150-454: The same powertrain as the 1995–1997 Grand Marquis, with a 4.6 L Modular V8 and a four-speed 4R70W automatic transmission. In a minor revision, several under-hood components were relocated, with the power steering reservoir attached to the engine and the coolant overflow reservoir relocated onto the radiator (both were located on a fender). In another change, the engine was converted to coil-on-plug ignition along with fail-safe cooling using

3213-410: The third-generation Grand Marquis primarily competed against its Ford Crown Victoria counterpart. They remained successful, selling over 100,000 units per year. The third-generation Grand Marquis retained the Panther chassis from its predecessors, lengthened in wheelbase to 114.7 inches. To upgrade handling stability, the triangulated four-link rear axle (in use on large Fords since 1965) was replaced by

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3276-417: The two-door was given its own roofline with vertical opera windows . The rear featured horizontal wrap-around taillamps with amber reflectors and a color-keyed decorative trim panel with a fuel filler door. In 1978, the Monarch underwent an exterior facelift; the headlamps were converted from round to rectangular, with the turn signals moved under the headlamps. The taillamps were revised to all red lenses and

3339-512: The wood-trimmed dashboard of the Monarch was only equipped with three instruments – a speedometer, fuel gauge, and a clock – along with a suite of warning lights. At its launch, the Monarch was available in two trim levels: base and Ghia. For 1977, the two-door coupe was produced in an S (Sports Coupe) trim. For 1978 and 1979, the ESS (European Sports Sedan) trim was available, distinguished by blacked-out exterior trim. The Mercury Grand Monarch Ghia

3402-406: Was a 200 cu in (3.3 L) inline six-cylinder engine, with a 250 cu in (4.1 L) inline six optional. V8 power came from one of two options: the 302 cu in (4.9 L) or 351 cu in (5.8 L) Windsor engines. Although originally developed to become a new Mercury Comet, the Mercury Monarch was differentiated from the Comet produced alongside it in

3465-466: Was better received in the marketplace than the new-for-1991 Chevrolet Caprice, its exterior design (inspired by the Ford Taurus ) was not as popularly accepted as the Grand Marquis. The Grand Marquis outsold the Crown Victoria in 1994 and 1997, despite the latter's police and fleet sales advantage. Ford took note and kept the Grand Marquis' design language in place for 1998 while bringing much of it to

3528-546: Was discontinued for 1958 when the Edsel was introduced, but the poor acceptance of the Edsel led Ford to reintroduce Monarch for 1959. With a drop in medium-priced vehicle sales in the early 1960s, and the introduction of the similarly priced Ford Galaxie , the Monarch brand was dropped again after the 1961 model year, with approximately 95,450 cars built in 15 years. Mercury Grand Marquis The Mercury Grand Marquis

3591-491: Was discontinued, and the 4.9 L (302 cu in) V8 (rounded up to "5.0 L" by Ford) became the sole engine available through 1991. The throttle-body fuel injection engine was rated at 130 hp (97 kW; 132 PS). Starting with the 1986 model year, the engine adopted multi-port fuel injection with a cast-aluminum upper intake manifold, increasing output to 150 hp (112 kW; 152 PS). The 4.9 L (302 cu in) V8 engine were paired with

3654-488: Was offered from 1975 to 1976, marketed as the highest-trim version of the Monarch. Adopting many features shared with the larger Marquis and Grand Marquis , the Grand Monarch Ghia offered a sophisticated central hydraulic power system and four-wheel disc brakes not used on the standard Monarch or Granada. According to the May 1976 edition of Car and Driver , three out of five of Ford top executives, including Henry Ford II , used

3717-541: Was offered with multiple vinyl roof configurations, sharing the B-pillar "coach lamps" of the Lincoln Town Car. Alongside the standard half-length vinyl roof, a full-length roof was offered; the LS offered an additional option of a "formal roof," configured with a " frenched " rear window. The Grand Marquis was styled with a different rear fascia, using full-width taillamps (separated by the license plate). During its production,

3780-545: Was replaced by the heavier-duty 4R70W transmission ; it was shared with the Lincoln Mark VIII and Town Car. Ford AOD-E 4-speed overdrive automatic (1993–1994) Ford 4R70W 4-speed overdrive automatic (1995–1997) While the redesigned 1992 Grand Marquis/Crown Victoria would prove more fuel-efficient than their predecessors, a loophole in CAFE regulations allowed Ford Motor Company to sell full-size cars and improve

3843-605: Was retained as the standard-trim model, with the Marquis replacing the previous Montclair and Park Lane (the Marquis Brougham became the top Mercury, replacing the Park Lane Brougham). The Marauder returned as a fastback Marquis (replacing the S-55), lasting through 1970. Mercury discontinued separate station wagon models, with the Colony Park becoming a Marquis-based station wagon. The Grand Marquis name made its first appearance in 1974 as part of an interior trim package for

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3906-569: Was the first Japanese-brand sedan sold with six-passenger seating (although assembled in the United States); an extended-wheelbase version of the Camry, the Avalon was considered a full-size sedan based on its interior space. The third-generation Grand Marquis went on sale in late 1997 for the 1998 model year with an evolutionary update to the exterior and interior. While the 1992 Crown Victoria

3969-451: Was the only body style that was offered. A four-door hardtop was available from 1975 to 1978 and a two-door hardtop coupe from 1975 to 1987. The Grand Marquis was the second-best-selling Mercury line (after the Cougar ) with 2.7 million units produced; at 36 years of continuous production, the Grand Marquis was the longest-running Mercury nameplate (the Cougar, 34 years). Ford manufactured

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