Ford Motor Company’s Mercury division was taken from us in 2011. The brand’s demise came during a flurry of marque terminations, and was bracketed by the shutdown of Pontiac (2010) and the final model year of Saab (2012).
Though hard to pinpoint exactly, Mercury’s market position probably hewed most closely to GM’s Oldsmobile division, though both brands drifted at different times between being slightly sporty to being more luxury focused.
I’m sure some readers will argue otherwise, but to me Mercury hit its design apex in the Sixties, selling cars that were dramatically sleek and angular–and, more importantly, easily recognizable as Mercs.
Collected here for your consideration are 15 classic Mercury print ads, and one seriously entertaining TV commercial.
Note: We’re intentionally excluded Cougar ads from this post. To check out some Cougar advertising, click here for an article dedicated exclusively to that nameplate.
If there’s a Mercury in your past, please tell us about it. The place to leave comments is down below.
Feline Madness! A Gallery of Mercury Cougar Ads
1946
Review Flashback! 1977 Mercury Cougar
1951
Cheap Wheels: 1987-88 Mercury Cougar
1953
Car Spotter: 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator
1954
Cheap Wheels: 2001-2003 Mercury Grand Marquis LSE
1956
Review Flashback! 1986 Merkur XR4Ti
1965
1966
Photo Feature: 1966 Mercury Monterey Two-Door Sedan
1971
Photo Feature: 1966 Mercury Park Lane Convertible
1975
Photo Feature: 1959 Mercury Colony Park
1976
’80s Flashback: 1987 Mercury Merkur Rapido XR4Ti
1979
What if General Motors, Chrysler, or AMC Had Designed the 1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser?
1986
Personal-Luxury Place Holder: 1975-1976 Ford Elite
1987
Dead-Brand Madness! 10 Classic Edsel Ads
1989
The 8 Best-Looking Cars of 1978