As a somewhat more luxurious counterpart to the Ford Fairmont, this 1981 Mercury Zephyr was still not very luxurious compared to anything available today in the medium luxury class. But, that’s what makes it such an interesting era and an interesting car. This one can be found here on craigslist in beautiful Albuquerque, New Mexico. The seller is asking $4,500.
I don’t really see any flaws in this car inside or out, and even the engine compartment looks almost like new. It’s had some clean-living, maybe it’s that high-desert New Mexico climate. It’s 39 years old now but, with only 31,500 miles, that’s fewer than 1,000 miles a year, if my Jethro-Bodine-like 8th-grade education has taught me anything.
The Mercury Zephyr was made for the 1978 through 1983 model years and I can’t think of the last time I saw one on the street. Or, any Mercury, now that I think of it, but especially one this old. The seller has provided some good photos and I don’t want to overdo it, but this car really looks like a time capsule. They say that it’s in near perfect condition and it even has new tires.
There aren’t any photos of the back seat, trunk, or the underside, unfortunately, but what is shown looks perfect. There are two other interior photos, a partial one of the front seating area and one of the driver’s door. Why there are no photos of the fantastic plaid seats is beyond me, but it is a craigslist ad and it is 2020. It’s hard to believe that the Zephyr was a replacement for the Mercury Comet as the Ford Fairmont was a replacement for the Ford Maverick.
The engine is Ford’s 200 cubic-inch inline-six which would have had a mere 94 hp. This is a 2,800-pound car so it isn’t that heavy, but less than 100 hp isn’t a lot of power. It’s backed up by Ford’s C4 three-speed automatic. The seller says that it needs an AC converter kit, whatever that is? Converting from R-12 I’m guessing. Other than that, it sure looks like this one is ready to go. Have any of you owned a Mercury Zephyr?
Yes, it’s baby blue. With a white vinyl roof. With plaid upholstery. With a smog-strangled ancient straight six. With plastic wheel covers. What a slow, boring car, right?
But if you took it to the local cruise-in, be prepared to be a good listener. Most will simply equate it with a Fairmont. “I haven’t seen one of these in decades!!” “My (mother, brother, girlfriend, uncle) had one just like this, only it was (different in some way)!!” Makes for fun conversation.
So yes, this is an example of a common car for its day. And I’m fine with that, actually I’m glad to see such examples still around. It looks to be in great shape. The price isn’t out of line. It illustrates that it doesn’t take much money to be part of the old car hobby.
Couldn’t have said it better !!!
It is not a car. It is an appliance.
“a device or piece of equipment designed to perform a specific task, typically a domestic one.”
Mr Onick, who says a car like this can’t be pleasurable? Some people enjoy a smooth riding, capable, good looking car. Not everyone has to drive pretending they are in Indy or a drag strip. I agree with Bob, many more people are going to love this at a show then the dime a dozen over restored Mopars or big block Fords and Chevys. Most of us drove cars like this, not the muscle cars. Mainly those were for rich spoiled kids, criminals, and foolish young people who really couldn’t afford them. If the muscle cars were so great, why were 95+% of the cars like this?
SMDA- 95% of the cars were like that as a result of the Bell Curve.where all of the “average” people live in the mediocre middle The real losers are at the one extreme end and the folks who live life on the edge are at the other extreme. And I was also forced to drive such an appliance by my employer, Union Carbide, in 1981. It was a battle to stay awake behind the wheel of that slug.
Ike, your right. In 1981 you should have driven your Hemicuda for work. Maybe just ask for mileage from the boss. I never complained about a work car, it kept my own cars safe and snug at home.
Thanks for the advice. Perhaps I could borrow your Time Machine and go back and lead a better life. I am so ashamed about not appreciating the goodness of Mr.Marley.
It could be $500.00 less but they aren’t out of the realm of realistic pricing. Very refreshing to see that. Exceptionally clean car. I’ve driven several of these and the Fairmont and they good honest cars that did what they were designed to.
I bought one of these in 1987 from a friend for 100.00 and drove it 70 miles a day while commuting to MoTech Automotive Trade School for the next 1.5 yrs. It was—of the hundreds of vehicles I have owned—one of my favorites!
Would you look at it? Just look at it!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF8GhC-T_Mo
😂 lol
There are just some Internet Phenomenons that you completely miss the boat on.
This is one of them.
Never saw this before and it’s good for a chuckle or two, but would get old really fast.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought of this video, lol
The two door version the Futura and Z-7 had the rear taillights slanted and much more attractive b-pillars and side glass. With meatier tires and nice rims it was actually a decent looking vehicle. The right color such as black also made a big difference. The fleet pale blue was a horrible choice and made it a true econobox. You don’t see many today.
My high school had two 1982 Fairmont driver’s education cars. One was bright red the other was this color. I got the red one and I think it was the first car I ever drove. Man. Probably the only time of my life when a car like that could have felt even remotely exciting.
Make it a sleeper. Slap a 302 in it and a subtle rumble muffler.
Not even a sleeper. Bob Glidden ran a Fairmont funny car, Which I saw race as a kid. I think this was a fairly popular car for drag racing. They were pretty cool. Then the cough drop thunderbird came out and changed the look.
I say do a throwback pro street car. Tubbed wheelwells, nitrous, 302. Would be pretty cool. Obviously would be cooler with a coupe, but whatever.
Got a Fairmont sedan as a rental in Los Angeles in 1981. Car had power windows and locks, wing windows, dual remote control mirrors, tilt wheel, cruise control, AM/FM stereo radio, and heated rear window. Only thing lacking was the engine, as it was a six cylinder, not the V-8. Was shocked that a rental agency would order so many options on a small economy-based car.
These had horns on turn signal, you tapped it to sound horn, my grandfather hated it.
My friend’s Mustang had that too. I think it was an ’82.
We had the wagon version w/o fake wood. Six cyl. automatic; I liked how it drove, but would die every time it hit a puddle.
I had a Futura with a V-8 I bought in California, and although it was a bit of a strange design I surprised a lot of folks when the light turned green. I would buy this sedan if I had the room. I like the design. To each his own.
My parents bought a new Zephyr in 1979, though unlike this one it had a V8 and no vinyl roof.
The MSRP on their Zephyr was about double the asking price on this example…pretty slow depreciation?
Had a 79 2 door Zephyr. Black with a silver Landau? top. 2300 4 cyl with a 5 speed. Fun car, but not fast at all. Basically an overgrown Pinto. Got me through college.
Nice. I sold my Zephyr Z7 over a year ago. It was as clean as this one. The buyer drove a rental from Prescott, AZ to Colorado Springs, CO, and he drove the Z7 all the way back. Exterior was white with half maroon vinyl top and maroon interior, tinted windows, 3.3L, 14 inch wheels off a 70s Mercury Capri that looked awsome. He was estatic when he saw it in person. I sold it for about a 1000 less than the price of this one. I owned it for about 2 years. The only maintenance that I had to do was the rear pinion shaft seal and the heater core. It had ac, but didn’t blow cold. I took it to a couple of free Saturday morning car shows, and had a couple of people tell me their stories of having a car like it when they were young or their parents had one. The guy that I bought it from later acquired a 78 Ford Fairmont Futura with a 302ci. I almost bought it off of him too. It was navy blue, white interior, sunroof, and it had the rear sway bar from the factory. It was also in prestine condition. Both cars had the bench seat.
They also made a 2.3L turbo Z7 and Futura. I saw one once.
Of course, National Coach converted about 212 of these Futuras into the Durango pickup truck. I had one of those too, but sold it. I wouldn’t mind finding another one of those conversions. I love the fiberglass bed and tailgate.
You’ve got me curious now. I’ve lived in Prescott Arizona for the vast majority of my life and never saw the one you described. Yes I do notice ANY cars from that era and the 50s and 60s. I truly would like to see your old car because I’ve always respected these and even thought that some had a real ‘cool’ factor to them.
Well, I did sell it to a guy named Mike who drove it all the way from COS to Prescott. If he pays attention to some of these Barnfind discussions maybe he can tell you exactly how you can look and admire his Zephyr Z7:)
ps: the steering wheel had a couple of cracks on it, but the car overall was in fabulous shape for a 37 year old car when I sold it. And to emphasize, it looked even better with those 70s Ford Capri wheels!
I would like to see the blue one with the factory 302ci that I described. Those are the rare ones x100!
David – maybe he’ll bring it out to the Watson Lake car show. I’d like to see it too!
This car needs the sleeper treatment. Since the chassis is a foxbody, 5.0, 5 spd, and 8.8 rear would make this an e-ticket ride!
These were great family cars back then.Ran forever,
stone reliable,& decent to drive.Fairmont/Zephyrs were based
on the same floorpan as the Mustang,so you could install parts
from one.
Back in ’81,we bought a ’78 Fairmont wagon.I looked at
the new K cars,but read that fleet owners bought these,because
they were cheaper to run,& more reliable.
Our wagon was black,with a chrome roof rack. It was fun
coming up behind other drivers at night – you’d see them slow way
down.That was because it looked like a police car (the roof rack –
looked like a light bar).
I added Mustang TRX wheels,which lowered it down a little bit.
Call me a curmudgeon, but I look at the photos with a cautious eye……
Way too easy to take photos which make this car appear better than it actually is, so a somewhat skeptical approach and a close inspection are warranted. Maybe the very many cracks in the steering wheel are the worst of it, maybe not.
The rental agency I worked for at MIA had dozens of these, seems most were that same powder blue. Vinyl bench, the 250 six, A/C and a C-4 on the column. Nothing special to drive but damn near indestructible. Rockford J-turns, power brake burnouts and a small bridge on the way to the gas station whet you could catch some air if traffic was light. Dull but very stout cars.
These are the types of cars I love to read about on this site. Corvettes? Mustangs? They’re a dime a dozen. How many of these do you see, though? Every car has its place in automotive history, and I like to see well kept vehicles like this. It’s in great shape and if it were closer, I’d definitely give it a look.
Well I guess I am different but I like it. Here in the snow belt its likely 30 years since I have seen a good one like this . Sure you could pay 4500. for a rusted Mopar hulk out of a field and totally restore it at a cost of 50,000 .
But take it to the local show and I would think more people would hover around this old Mercury.
I admit I actually love the baby blue color with white top and the boxy shape of the car. The shape allows plenty of headroom and interior space while riding on a compact chassis. Today’s turtle shaped sedans cut into usable headroom, are harder to get into and make all new cars look alike. Modern interiors are all boring gray or black plastic dashes and shades of gray or neutral seats. I am not a fan of the 3.3 liter Ford for its lack of power but the automatic transmission makes this classic easy to drive. Today’s car powerplants are usually smaller 4 cylinders and require expensive synthetic oil to keep them running for having to rev more than an older 6 cylinder like the Zephyr. Verdict: I would love to have this Mercury as my hobby entry car.