MY MERKUR HISTORY: Love For The Automobile

MY MERKUR HISTORY: Love For The Automobile - Reginald A. Craig

October 12, 2021

MY MERKUR HISTORY: Love For The Automobile - Reginald A. Craig

My Merkur history began with blissful ignorance. Growing up my familiarity of cars was through the lens of the motorcity. All of my youth I spent hours upon hours drawing vehicles from the big three. Starting in the 80’s I would also assemble several 1/24th scale model cars and the Mustang (Special Vehicle Operations) edition quickly became my favorite.

This experience piqued my interest about the 2.3 liter Lima in-line 4 cylinder turbocharged engine. At the time I was young and became obsessed with the Mustang SVO (1984-1986). I was oblivious that the SVO’s enhanced aerodynamics, handling characteristics and power-plant were all European inspired.

Throughout the 1980’s German performance brands like BMW and Mercedes were rapidly growing in popularity here in America. Ford Motor Companies answer was to ship over to the states a re-engineered and rebadged version of their European vehicle named Sierra. Ford of Europe originally produced the Sierra from 1982-1993.

The North American version would be called XR4Ti. Ford even created an entirely new brand to sell this vehicle as Merkur; the German word for Mercury. I honestly admit that back in those days the Ford Sierra wasn’t even a blip on my radar.

I was clueless about Ford European cars and had no idea how much impact this division had on influencing domestic vehicles like the SVO, Lincoln Mark VII and the Taurus.

Before I proceed please allow me to share my first encounter greeting the Merkur XR4Ti.

It was a dark evening in the City of Detroit - year 1986. I had just arrived home with my father from browsing the local Service Merchandise... or maybe it was Montgomery Wards? I don’t know; too long ago, but the most important memory was pulling up in our Lincoln Continental and seeing that black spaceship parked backwards in the driveway.

My father uttered the words, “what did he get that ugly car for”. My father was referring to my older brother Doug. Anything else he sad was a blur as I was hypnotized by a hue like glow around the car. Well, actually my brother was in the drivers seat with the interior lights on and the moonroof open. Nevertheless I was possessed to walk right over and sit in the passenger seat.

It was a whole new world. The more I got to look around I could see a smoother version of the Mustang SVO woven within the XR4Ti. The experience was an awakening to start learning beyond the scope of domestic automobiles. I soon afterwards got a subscription to motor trend magazine and absorbed all I could read about cars across the world.

A few years later when it was time to purchase my vehicle I considered a few used options:

Ford Probe

Mazda RX-7

Chrysler Conquest

etc...

Note: I didn’t include the Mustang because the third generation was ending production and had been around since 1979. As much as I loved the SVO, the Foxbody was getting long in the tooth. Therefore I decided after seven years of a lasting impression to purchase my very own XR4Ti. This was the closest I could get to owning a modern SVO. We were in the final year of the Sierra, and the American version had already discontinued. Because neither got a next generation, the XR4Ti remained modern looking well throughout the 90’s. It was the perfect situation for my first car purchase.

SIMILARITIES BETWEEN SVO & XR4Ti:

Bi-wing rear spoiler
No front grille
Flush halogen lights
Body ground effects
Independent suspension
2.3 liter turbo engine

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SIERRA & XR4Ti: (Road Legal for US)

Extended 5mph bumper
Headlight and parking light separated and made of plastic
Emissions approved motor and catalyst system
Greenhouse view is different for rear passenger
Steering wheel and interior bits like the clock and gauge cluster

VARIATIONS OF THE SIERRA:
Three door hatchback (liftback)

Five door hatchback (saloon)

Station wagon (estate)

Car delivery van

South Africa got a V8 version - Ford Sapphire

LIFE WITH A FAMILIAR STRANGER:

It’s a Ford but most Americans don’t recognize it; must be a SAAB

OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE:

I enjoyed being behind the wheel of my Merkur XR4Ti for ten years (1993-2003). This car gave me endless adventures. However it was no video game, I loss loads of coins while learning plenty about automotive maintenance. Every year it was something major to repair. Halfway through owning my Merkur it developed compression issues, ultimately the Ford service department needed to rebuild the engine. Certainly many other repairs were needed, some I solved on my own. Unfortunately majority of the wrenching were done by professionals $$$

In spite the high cost of keeping my Merkur on the road it was truly a passion project. The only inconvenience for much of those 10 years was keeping it a reliable daily driver. However the lessons were invaluable and instrumental in developing me into the car enthusiast I am today.