It seems that Bob Lutz has always had the enthusiast’s back. Meaning, he has a long track record of bringing over European-market models that he felt had a sporting chance at competing with the dominant sports cars of the… more»
Merkur
Jul 9, 2024 • Exclusives • 19 Comments
BF Exclusive: 1987 Merkur XR4Ti
We’ve seen a few Merkur XR4Tis here on Barn Finds, and they’re always interesting cars from an interesting era. Ford’s European division offered the Ford Sierra, which had to be modified to meet U.S. safety regulations. None other than… more»
Dec 28, 2023 • For Sale • 20 Comments
Near Mint: 1988 Merkur XR4Ti
One of the more unusual parts of Ford’s history is the appearance of the Merkur brand of automobiles in Lincoln-Mercury dealerships. Plucked from Ford’s European offerings, the Merkur coupe and sedan were intended to compete with the offerings of… more»
Nov 25, 2023 • For Sale • 19 Comments
One-Owner 43k Miles: 1988 Merkur Scorpio
Ford thought there would be a market for additional Ford of Europe imports sold through its Mercury division. So, the Merkur Scorpio was offered in 1988 and 1989. As a 4-door German-built luxury sedan, it was a companion to… more»
Nov 20, 2023 • For Sale • 20 Comments
Mercury in German! 1988 Merkur XR4Ti
In 1982, Ford introduced the Sierra in Europe as the successor to the Cortina/Taunus product lines. The then-head of European operations thought there would be a market for an Americanized version and spearheaded an effort to bring the XR4Ti… more»
Nov 6, 2023 • For Sale • 20 Comments
One Family Owned: 1986 Merkur XR4Ti
A vehicle that’s been in the family for years can easily become an heirloom, an item that we hope to pass on other members of our respective clan. However, not everyone respects those wishes, or the efforts made to… more»
Sep 14, 2023 • For Sale • 58 Comments
No Reserve: 1986 Merkur XR4Ti 5-Speed
Show of hands if you remember the Merkur XR4Ti (it’s that XR4Ti part that I can never recall). They were all over the place in the ’80s (’85-’89) and then just seemed to disappear overnight. Today’s find, courtesy of… more»
Mar 9, 2023 • For Sale • 16 Comments
Parked For 20 Years: 1987 Merkur XR4Ti
The seller of this 1987 Merkur XR4Ti says that it has had just one owner since new and it’s been parked for the last 15-20 years. As we all know just from sitting around too much over the last… more»
Dec 1, 2022 • For Sale • 19 Comments
Rebadged Import: 1986 Merkur XR4Ti
Ford in the U.S. has been known to borrow from Ford of Europe over the years for cars to market on these shores. Case-in-point is the Mercury Capri which was built and sold under the name on both continents…. more»
Oct 25, 2022 • For Sale • 43 Comments
A Poor Selling Jellybean: 1987 Merkur XR4Ti
While BMW has had a presence in the United States for decades, the 1980s was when the brand really became a force to be reckoned with. With models like the 318 selling like hotcakes, BMW tapped into the young… more»
Nov 3, 2021 • For Sale • 26 Comments
Turbo Project: 1985 Merkur XR4TI
This 1985 Merkur XR4Ti is a project, but a worthwhile one when you consider how few of these are left in stock condition with the preferred manual gearbox. The cosmetics are rough and the seller notes that the gas… more»
Sep 3, 2021 • For Sale • 32 Comments
Turbo Project Car: 1989 Merkur XR4TI
Every now and again, a car shows up on Barn Finds that I really, really want to go out and buy. This 1989 Merkur XR4Ti is one such vehicle, as I’ve always wanted to own one but have never… more»
Nov 28, 2020 • For Sale • 34 Comments
Parts Or Restore? 1987 Merkur XR4Ti Turbo
They were popular, and in a flash, gone and mostly forgotten, certainly by me, until I spied this 1987 Merkur listing and thought, “Oh yeah, one of those”. While limited in production numbers, the Merkur was still a common… more»
Sep 12, 2019 • For Sale • 22 Comments
All Original Hot Hatch: 1985 Merkur XR4Ti
This 1985 Merkur XR4Ti is a surprisingly well preserved example with just over 75,000 original miles and remaining in stock condition. Purchased as an autocross project for the seller and his son, it is now for sale as the… more»
Aug 24, 2019 • For Sale • 17 Comments
$500 Turbo Hatch: 1985 Ford Merkur XR4ti
$500 is the basic cost of entry to project car ownership of almost every kind, so you really just have to pick your poison if you have a few bucks burning a hole in your pocket. This 1985 Merkur… more»
Jul 7, 2019 • For Sale • 10 Comments
Euro Turbo: 1987 Merkur XR4Ti
For a car that had the potential to be a market success, circumstances contrived to see the Merkur XR4Ti actually wind up being something of a failure. This was a shame, as the potential was certainly there, but a… more»
