stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Post by stanhas87 on May 29, 2008 3:53:27 GMT 1
Dear Bill:
I heard the hints about the elimination of Mercury (sigh). Ford is at the same shape it was on the beggining of the 1980's, when they were having similar problems. For me is difficult to assess who is in the bigger problem: GM or Ford, but I would say both. It may be possible that in ten years, American Auto Industry may be a thing of the past, leaving only the trashy contaptions running around.
Sad times, indeed.
(Double sigh).
Nick K
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skunk
87thScale addict
5th B-day
Posts: 2,762
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Post by skunk on May 29, 2008 18:50:20 GMT 1
Will anyone really miss Mercury? Whether your Panther has a "Mercury Grand Marquis" or a "Ford Crown Victoria" label on it cannot be very important. Not even Lincoln/Mercury dealers will care, becase Lincolns have essentially become Mercurys these days. The truly dead brand is Lincoln...
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stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Post by stanhas87 on May 30, 2008 5:59:12 GMT 1
Dear All:
Mercurys were basically Fords with a different badge, albeit some of their full size machines did had a hint or two of Lincoln, specially the Gran Marquis (saw one today) from the 1970's. They also had the Cyclones which were good performers on NASCAR and the Maruders - from 1960's - which were powerful Muscle Cars. But basically, from the mid-1970's on, the Gran Marquis was its best known image (and the model which sold the most from this make).
The Vic also made history in the silver screen. There is this site which shows photos of cars from the movies (one can even search them by Make). While the 1977-1978 Monaco has only two pages in there,the Vic has at least 46 and counting. Even in the 1980's, when the Monaco was the Cop Car of choice in the movies, Ford LTDs Crown Victorias and Wagons would appear now and then. And for more than a decade, the Vic was almost an absolut choice as a cop car. So, basically this car already made history.
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stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Post by stanhas87 on Jun 6, 2008 0:28:11 GMT 1
Dear All:
I was wondering what LAPD would have done if the Vic were to be discontinued. Since I been around Los Angeles, LAPD never had the Malibus or Diplomats at their fleets, and up to Yesterday I was wondering why (after all, the Sheriff Department had these). And the answer was so simple: LAPD minimum wheelbase lenght was 114 inches, a fact that the Diplomat/ Fury or Malibus did not met. Albeit I did not saw it yet at my backyard, the LAPD, as of 2008, added the Dodge Charger at their fleet (and I think that this pup is shorter than the Diplomat's 112.7 inches) besides the usual Crown Vic (I saw a brand new Vic today, however). Well, that is that.
Something similar occured with the CHP, who up to 1975 had a limit of 122 inch wheelbase for their fleet. Based on that limit, Chrysler even agreed to stetch one of their Dodges from 120 to 122 inches (and that pup as of now is a very unique vehicle) so the CHP used them. As of 1975 and the first gas crunch; CHP tested and approved the Coronets (but loved the full-sized Monacos) and used both sizes until the itroduction of the (a big fiasco for them) Saint Regis. After that, they could not have enough of the Diplomat, which was replaced by the Caprice and then the Vic.
Mind you, with the Charger, the only issue is the lenght of the vehicle; is not the same situation of the early 1980's that due to emission control and diabolical CAFE rules, everything was below underpowered.
Well, that is that. This attitude from the LAPD is a tell that the Vic may not see production after 2009.
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stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Post by stanhas87 on Oct 11, 2008 19:13:41 GMT 1
Dear All:
I could not help it, but gave a read at the Wilkipedia site about the Vic, and it seems that it is doing quite well in the Middle East, specially in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Another interesting thing is the fact that in 2008, at the above-mentioned market,some of the Vic models did wear the Ford Fusion Grille. Whilst the long base Vic is only used as taxi in North America, it is sold to the General Public in that area, and there is a Mercury Marquis with the same layout (i.e., long-wheelbase). Also, some of the 'sporty' Vics do have a rear spoiler, inherited from the Mercury Marauder. Holden is selling its Statesman model as the Caprice in there (left-drive at all) but is not doing as much business as the Vic (albeit it is liked as a Cop Car) and in some places such as Kuwait, the Gran Marquis is the model with more sales.
There will be a 2009 Marquis and Town Car. Now the encyclopedia does not mention news about the retirement of the platform. It was announced that the 2009 Vics and Marquis would have some external changes, but that did not happened, albeit the Marquis rear is more like as the Vic. It also interesting to notice that Vic sales in 2007 were above the vehicle Ford wanted to promote - 500 / Taurus. 95% of the fleet operators grabbed this car.
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stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Post by stanhas87 on Aug 26, 2011 17:21:58 GMT 1
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