1986 Mercury Capri: New <=> Better

What to drive for a week while mom’s Zephyr is in the body shop. Again.
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ACID FLASHBACK: 1978-83 Mercury Zephyr

There can’t be too many left. Especially if you drove them like my brother and I did. It seemed like a good idea in the winter of 1980: replace the 7 seater Oldsmobile with a smaller, lighter car. The choices were basically Fairmont vs. GM A-body. Even my Dad knew that the AMC Concord and the Aspen/Volare twins were decrepit old shitboxes rooted in the 1960s.
I can tell you first hand that:
- it’s woefully underpowered. 88-hp is just not enough.
- The only thing imaginative is the hybrid strut front suspension and aluminum bumpers instead of heavy chromed steel.
- Everything else is derivative. The headlight/running light pattern is from every other American sedan of the day. The vents are leftovers from Mark V production. Everything is a rectangle.
- It’s not that efficient. The trunk is shallow. The seats are basically amorphous slabs of foam on the floor.
- Did I mention cheap? Everything inside is brittle plastic, thin vinyl or flimsy urethane.
Sights from the Road Out of the Barrens
Barrett-Jackson 2014: a Little Ain’t Enough
No, you’re NOT seeing double. This is just a taste of the duplication this year. We lost track of how many orange 1970 Boss 302 Mustangs were there for the taking. It’s not just a Russo and Steele thing. Want a 1957 Pace car?
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1957 MERCURY TURNPIKE CRUISER CONVERTIBLE PACE CAR $49,500 |
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Fool me twice…
I love a good 1978 Mercury Cougar XR7. I also know, having learned the hard, demoralizing and expensive way, that survivor cars are best when they belong to someone else, and you can just shoot or drive them on occasion. Basically ownership, without the expense.
So, I will have to pass on this fabulous opportunity.