Ford’s bold Edsel experiment is a story that the company would probably prefer to erase from its history books. It attempted a repeat performance in the 1980s when it launched the Merkur, destined for its Lincoln-Mercury showrooms. As with the Edsel, the Merkur failed to meet the company’s sales projections. The biggest difference was that this time Ford hadn’t torn up hundreds of millions of dollars in the process. This 1988 Merkur XR4Ti is a wonderful survivor. It presents exceptionally well, and the turbocharged four under the hood delivers surprisingly strong performance. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Rocco B. for spotting the Merkur listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Greenville, North Carolina. The seller set their price for this gem at $10,000 OBO.
Launched in 1985, the Merkur XR4Ti was a Euro-sourced high-performance model destined for Lincoln-Mercury showrooms. Based on the Ford Sierra, the company reengineered the vehicles to meet North American safety requirements and road conditions. It wasn’t the sales success the company anticipated, and it remained available for only five years. This 1988 example is a spotless survivor that looks stunning in Rosso Red. The seller states that it features the Monochromatic Appearance Package, originally introduced in 1987. Color-matching the lower body cladding on cars finished in certain paint shades gave those vehicles a more integrated appearance. The listing images suggest that this XR4Ti has led a sheltered life. The paint shines richly, there are no panel dings or dents, and the seller states that this garage-kept gem is rust-free. The tinted glass is excellent, and the wheels are spotless. This car scores extra points for its optional tilt-and-slide glass Moonroof.
The body-hugging bucket seats confirm the Merkur’s performance leanings, providing excellent lateral support during hard cornering. The XR4Ti was marketed as a premium model, and Ford ensured the interior equipment reflected its stature. Buyers received air conditioning, power windows, power locks, heated power mirrors, a rear window defogger, a sports gauge cluster, and a premium four-speaker AM/FM radio/cassette player. This car’s Red exterior is combined with the “standard” Raven and Shadow Gray cloth trim. The interior images are limited, but the lack of wear on the outer seat bolsters is extremely encouraging. The wheel is in good condition, and there is no evidence of cracks in the dash.
Although turbocharging was not a new phenomenon in North America, the XR4Ti delivered surprising performance from a relatively small motor. The 1988 Sales Brochure confirms that its 2.3-liter fuel-injected four pumped out 175hp and 200 ft/lbs of torque. Buyers could opt for a three-speed automatic transmission, but this car features the more desirable five-speed manual. The Sales Brochure doesn’t just quote power and torque; it states that this car should leap from 0-60mph in 7.8 seconds. The seller recently replaced the ball joints, fuel pump, and spark plugs. This Merkur has 47,400 miles on the clock, and appears to be a turnkey proposition.
Ford initially projected sales of approximately 16,000 to 20,000 units per year for the Merkur XR4Ti, and while the initial figures looked positive, the downward spiral was pretty dramatic. Production fell into four-figure territory in 1987, and only 6,283 buyers would hand over their cash in 1988. A further drop in 1989 was the last straw, with Ford discontinuing the Merkur at the end of the year. This 1988 XR4Ti is a wonderful survivor, though the seller’s price is at the market’s top end. However, with values for high-end examples climbing steadily, the seller’s price isn’t unprecedented for a car of this caliber. Their optimism may explain why this classic has been on the market for nine weeks. Do you think they may need to compromise for this turbocharged classic to find a new home?
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