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Award Winning Time Capsule: 1983 Mercury Lynx

It’s rare that even a surviving economy car gets credit for beating the odds that say most cheap rides end up in the scrap heap, even if in pristine condition. This 1983 Mercury Lynx has certainly managed to get the recognition it deserves, standing out from muscle cars and vintage classics at the annual Rolling Sculpture Car Show held annually in downtown Ann Arbor and taking top prize for its incredibly high state of preservation. The Lynx is equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission and under 50,000 original miles, but it is not equipped with a 325 b.h.p. V8 as the listing states. Find it here on eBay with an opening bid of $6K and no action yet.

Car & Driver magazine is responsible for administering the award honors at the Rolling Sculpture show, and the full write-up on the Mercury can be read here. Based on the article, it seems surprising that the Lynx is up for sale given its longtime owner was clearly enamored by it. Of course, she was a bit older and it’s possible the longtime caretaker passed away. That’s tough for a few reasons, including that it’s hard to imagine another owner will love the car as much as she did. The body is seemingly in perfect condition, as is the chrome on the bumpers and the taillight lenses that retain as-new levels of tinting.

The interior is truly in time-warp condition and better than the low miles would even suggest. The fake wood trim still looks quite handsome, and the red carpeting shows virtually no signs of wear. The 5-speed manual was downright sporty for an econobox like this, and the Lynx is even equipped with a period car phone mounted in between the seats. The previous owner indicated she received the Lynx by way of an inheritance and intended to use it as a daily driver – but got second thoughts when she realized how nicely it had been looked after, and instead decided to carry on the tradition set by her relatives of taking obscenely good care of a throwaway car.

The Lynx is listed as residing in Ann Arbor, so there’s a chance it’s still with its long-time owner – but I would have expected a much more robust write-up if that was the case. The engine bay is somewhat dingy and certainly a let-down compared to the rest of the car. The opening bid is ambitious, because even as a preserved specimen, the target market for such a vehicle is limited by a few factors: one, as a hobby vehicle, it doesn’t necessarily stoke the emotional coals beyond being a time capsule, and two, because it’s so well-preserved, it’s a risk to put it into daily-driving duties. It’s still likely one of the best ones left, but the opening bid may be too strong for some.

Comments

  1. Avatar Bob_in_TN Member

    For those of us who have a soft spot for the low-budget throw-away economy cars, this Lynx is great to see. Two doors, manual transmission. Period-correct red interior. Looks to have had excellent care. Check out the window sticker: air, AM/FM/cassette, even pivoting front vent windows!!

    Muscle car fans can just move on, and that’s fine. For me, I’m pretty sure I would have more fun with this car as opposed to a high-dollar collectible. I wouldn’t hesitate taking this car to run errands around town, and I wouldn’t freak out if I saw a kid walking near it. I don’t think the price is particularly out of line.

    Thanks Jeff.

    Like 19
    • Avatar MarveH

      Right on brother. From another misguided ecnonobox fan!
      The five-speed makes it. Too many old economy cars are crippled by slush-boxes.
      I’d rather drive a slow car with a manual than a fast one with an autobox.

      Like 12
  2. Avatar Todd Fitch Staff

    The Lynx! Nice one, Jeff. I have to confess to heaving a little when I saw it. Decades ago my Aunt traded her beloved but rusty “Red Bird,” her ’70 or ’71 Skylark two-door, red with a black top, 350, on a Lynx like this only a light metallic green. Though not quite new the Lynx was immaculate inside, and squeak and rattle-free, but the three-speed automatic was noisy and shifted late and pretty much ruined the car. She actually went and tried to get the Buick back but it was already gone. Hopefully the five-speed would make this one a nice and nearly perfect little car. Thanks for the memories!

    Like 4
  3. Avatar irocrobb

    It sure looks to be in great shape. I did not realize they were that expensive back then.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Zapp

      This is a top-of-the-line LS with nearly every option available, except for an automatic and cast aluminum wheels, which would’ve pushed the sticker just north of $10,000. Most Lynxes had much less equipment and went for around $7K.

      Many people looking at a loaded Escort or Lynx realized they could get into a Fairmont or Zephyr for just a few hundred more, and went that route. When the Tempo and Topaz were introduced in ’84, the price premium to upsize was even less. The high-end Escort GLX and Lynx LS faded away right around then.

      Like 2
  4. Avatar Zapp

    A Lynx LS was a very rare sight even when they were new. I’ve only seen 2 or 3 of them prior to viewing this listing, and all of them were wagons with wood-applique exteriors.

    If I had the garage space and extra cash, I’d snap this right up. I doubt a nicer one exists, and still wish I would’ve grabbed the orange RS that was featured on BF not too long ago.

    My first car was an ’81 L luxuriously equipped with power brakes and AM/FM monaural radio with rear speakers. Still, I loved driving it–and would really love driving this one. I upgraded mine with the cast aluminum wheels from an LS, and would do the same with this car if it were mine. The reduced unsprung weight and extra wheel width noticeably improved both the ride and the handling.

    Like 2
  5. Avatar Jimbo from A2

    I remember seeing this car at Rolling Sculpture! It really is a time capsule in beautiful condition.

    Like 4
  6. Avatar Brakeservo

    I had the Ford version, the Escort. Was this absolute last American made car I ever bought! The Escort in England is a rightfully esteemed name, here it simply is another synonym for P.O.S.

    Like 1
  7. Avatar JCA Member

    Interesting find, I remember driving these. They were slow but compared to the Citations, a step above in build quality. Not as light and lively as the rabbit, gti or jettas though which was my winter beater of preference.

    Like 2
  8. Avatar Scott Brown

    This one appears to be a improved “build split” version. That’s what the guys in the Ford dealership parts department called the 83 Escort GL wagon my mom had.
    It had what was called a 1.6 H.O. engine coupled to the newly available 5 speed transaxle.
    I became aware of these mid year updated Escort/Lynx after Ford did yet another update in mid 1985 that was dubbed the 85 and half version. I learned of that when I was told that I would have to wait for a few months to order the GT version because the 85.5 was not available as a GT model.
    As a side note, I saw yet ANOTHER iteration of Escort GL 3door in this may/June of 1985 time period. It was called the “Spring Sport”. A nextdoor neighbor bought one. It had a mix of parts like tail lights from the just prior GT model and a new instrument panel that had just been introduced on the 1984 Escorts. Plus some blackout trim and 14 inch wheels from the new Tempo. So, there were some significant detail changes within a given model year before 1986! I also believe that the Spring Sport was the final year of the “spring special” promotional model’s that Ford had been so successfully offering since the mid 1960’s.

    Like 2
  9. Avatar bone

    I’ve said this before -Beware of any 1981 -1985 Escort or Lynx 1.6L that has not had the head replaced . These cars went about 50,000 and the heads would develop cracks right between the valves , requiring a new head .At the time the parts and labor seemed high to people , and most were junked. We had so many of these cars come into our junkyard in the mid 1980s that we stopped buying them . People were always calling looking for a good used head for one and you couldn’t even find one on the parts locator . The last few 1.6L Fords that have come up for sale on Barn Finds have all had about 50k on them , which makes me wonder if they know the heads are needing replacement ; I dont even know if you can get one anymore. If you really want one of these econoboxes, pick up a later version ; the 1985 1/2 and up Escorts were a much better and durable car.

    Like 5
    • Avatar Scott Brown

      Yes indeed! It probably was because the operating temperature was such that the cooling fan was calibrated through the TFS to come on when the engine neared the point of catching on fire. We had the dealership service department install a new, Ford built, drop on cylinder head assembly. Fortunately, the mid 83 Escort engines were not the disastrous interference valve type of the earlier types.

      Like 2
    • Avatar Todd M

      My ’87 Escort GT had a cracked head at 30k (bought it used).

      Like 1
  10. Avatar Cal

    I wish there were museums with cars like this in them. What I want to see is my past life, not some rich guys life. When at other types of museums, I just walk past fancy show off stuff, but gravitate to the things that regular people used and loved. The older I get the more I disdain the elite and their pompousness.

    Like 6
    • Avatar Scott Brown

      The Henry Ford has the first U.S. built Escort on display. They also have the first American built Honda Accord. And lots of other average or significant cars
      But, very few people have any desire to pay to see most cars of the past. Being inanimate objects, cars don’t have any notion of being elite or mundane.

      Like 4
  11. Avatar Scott Brown

    Yes indeed! It probably was because the operating temperature was such that the cooling fan was calibrated through the TFS to come on when the engine neared the point of catching on fire. We had the dealership service department install a new, Ford built, drop on cylinder head assembly. Fortunately, the mid 83 Escort engines were not the disastrous interference valve type of the earlier types.

    Like 0
  12. Avatar gtyates

    Wow, nice Lynx! My Dad had an ’82 blue Lynx with a 4 speed manual, a/c, Am radio. We swapped the radio out pretty quickly for an am/fm cassette system. I ended up with it and honestly, other than a premature timing belt break, covered by an extended Ford warranty, we never had any issues with the car. I let it go with around 100k miles and it was still a solid, if slow, vehicle.

    Like 0
  13. Avatar Stacey Hagan

    I love this car, had an 81 with a 4 speed. Cracked head was common. After 2 times I traded it in for a 5.0 1983 Capri RS during a bring your junker event. The Lynx was super nimble and was a blast to drive after my 67 Falcon with an anemic 6 cylinder. Just couldn’t find replacement parts for the engine, as the folks on here attested to, so it has to go.

    Like 1
  14. Avatar Rusty

    All I can think of when I see this car is the thousands of bumper end caps and bumper rub strips that I pulled out of 450 degree clamshell rubber presses on 90 degree Midwestern summer days. Just thinking about those hot days makes me sweat!

    Like 3
  15. Avatar DH

    Does anyone remember these spooky Vangelis Mercury Lynx ads? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dTdd1yWa0U

    Like 1
    • Avatar bhowe Member

      Love those 80’s commercials with their gross overdramatization. Toyota had some too that were over the top in heaping praise on their products. I agree with one of the prior commenters. I’d rather look at cars that were in my past, not all the high end 1 off models that nobody really drove in any quantity.

      Like 1
  16. Avatar irocrobb

    I agree with Cal 100 percent. I dont care about the Grand Nationals and Corvettes the rich guys owned. All my cars in my younger years were cheap,basic wheels. That is what I look at on this site.It has be 20 years likely since I have saw one of these on the road. I like it.

    Like 1
  17. Avatar Todd M

    This is a great little car – I’m in the same camp as many of you, I prefer base models and cars you just don’t see. Would be great to take this to a car show. I mean you kinda get tired of seeing all the Mustangs, Camaros (and I used to take my Mustang GT to the car shows – ha!). I just love to see folks who keep a base car so clean. I learned to drive on a 81-83 white Escort, just like this Lynx. Nice find!

    Like 2
  18. Avatar Brian S

    My first new car out of college was a ‘87 Ford Escort. If it wasn’t for the 5 speed manual transmission I would have fallen asleep driving it. The annoying self seat belt buckle was awful as well…

    Like 0
  19. Avatar Scott Brown

    Any car was an aluminum cylinder head can be damaged if it is overheated.

    Like 0

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