Looks like a 1977 or 1978 Lincoln Versailles (I think the grill says '78). This was Ford's answer to GM's tendancy to upscale and charge for luxury (like the dressed up Cavalier known as the Cimmaron). In this case Ford 'upscaled' the Granada into both a Mercury Monarch and this strange looker.
As for the Versailles, it was not an answer to the Cimarron (which was not introduced till 1982). It was instead an (inadequate) response, based on the US market Ford Granada, to the success of Cadillac's Nova-based 1976 Seville.
The Versailles does have one feature of note, however--it was the first US automobile to use a basecoat/clearcoat paint process.
Yup, the one with the Minilite wheels is a circa '78 Cologne-built Ford Fiesta Mk. I ('76-'83). The green car is the Ford of Europe-designed (Mexican-built) 2010 Fiesta. I sat in one recently and it appears to be a high quality car (which I don't think I'd say about the '78)
Yup, although from that angle it could just as easily be a Cutlass Salon which tells you why GM eventually went bust. They forgot there's supposed to be a difference.
Those single headlights were from '78 to '80. I remember the first Fairmont review in C&D, they thought it was just the greatest thing, with advanced lightweight construction, etc. Judging by how few I see still on the road (as in 0), maybe a bit too 'lightweight'. :sick:
They had to make the Squaremont light enough to be powered by the Pinto four-cylinder as a base powerplant. It wasn't that bad with a manual transmission (the four-cylinder four-speed would outrun the six-cylinder three speed), but with an automatic it was bloody hopeless. Ford rigged the throttle linkage on both the four and the six to make them seem quicker--the six with automatic (driver's ed car for me in SC) seemed to leap off the line even though it probably wouldn't crack 14 seconds 0-60.
With the 302 V8, on the other hand. . . actually it was still pretty lame, as the primitive emission controls choked it down to about 130 hp. Still, what a sleeper you could built out of a Fairmont Squire wagon with a modern crate motor. . .
a friend had a 4 cyl AT 4 door. Not fast, but it got us around. Different expectations in those days I guess!
I think that is the fox platform, right? So it was essentially a sedan version of the Mustang of that time (which also came with the anemic 4 cyl base engine way back when).
SO, a nicely worked 302 with a 4 speed, and some bolt on brake and suspension tweaks from the mustang catalogue, and you could have quite the performance family sedan bargain!
Hmm, light weight, RWD, roomy but compact performance sedan/wagon. Dang, wish they built that now! Sounds like (and frankly, would probably perform like) a 3 series from the mid-late 80s.
I would reply to some of the messages, but the darned right side is covering up the right hand text - including the "reply" button.
I had a '78 with the 302. I drove it in Germany during my tour there, and it kept up with the natives quite well. If you've driven there you know what that means...
It was a good car, it lasted 13 years before the rust got to it.
Put the number of the next message after the one with the wide picture into the GoToMessage box: #23858. Then the wide picture is skipped and you have the individual messages with their "reply" button!
Put the number of the next message after the one with the wide picture into the GoToMessage box: #23858. Then the wide picture is skipped and you have the individual messages with their "reply" button!
Man, that works like magic. Thanks. Now I will be able to read the 15 or so messages that always follow the picture in the displayed screen.
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
VW must have made a typo and substituted an M for the N and transposed a couple of vowels. Someone in the ad agency probably dropped the whiteboard when they were coming up with names.
As I understoood, some years ago ( 2? ), the new Bus AND the ground-up p/u were both nixed. I heard Porsche lost some $9B. Weren't they in talks to buy VW? This looks like a bold misstep.
Maybe VW could risk a small diesel pickup (the old ones they once sold here are still much beloved), but anything else in the truck line for the USA would be, IMO, hari-kari.
VW does not enjoy a reputation for...ahem...toughness....
How many times during the last several decades have we seen the supposed VW ressurection only to see their crap quality and customer indifference sink their fleeting gains? Personally, I don't trust their product durability and reliability any more than Chrysler. I also don't understand this continuing worship of German engineering when VW, Audi, BMW and Mercedes all have lots of overpriced product with seemingly disportionate black dot ratings.
I also don't understand this continuing worship of German engineering when VW, Audi, BMW and Mercedes all have lots of overpriced product with seemingly disportionate black dot ratings.
If you drove a German product you might understand it a little. I'm not going to tell you a VW, Mercedes or any other German product will deliver appliance-like reliability but I'm of the opinion that, properly maintained (i.e. by the book), they will deliver good service and a superior driving experience. I like to tell people they can't understand how good German cars are until they drive one that's flipped the nines on the odo.
My '00 BMW 528iA runs better at 121K miles than my MIL's '00 LeSabre at 42K miles (both have been maintained by the book).
Don't tar all German cars with the same brush either, a number of different BMW, Audi, and even VW models are on CR's "recommended" list for 2009. Mercedes is not doing so well.
Actually it is a 1964 Dodge Polara, the 1864s weren't very fast.;)
The little old lady from Pasadena Go granny, go granny, go granny go Has a pretty little flower bed of white gardenias Go granny, go granny, go granny go But parked in her rickety old garage Is a brand new shiny red Super Stock Dodge
Comments
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Later cars used MoPar V8 power.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Ford's answer to GM's tendancy to upscale and charge for luxury (like the dressed
up Cavalier known as the Cimmaron). In this case Ford 'upscaled' the Granada into both a Mercury Monarch and this strange looker.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
As for the Versailles, it was not an answer to the Cimarron (which was not introduced till 1982). It was instead an (inadequate) response, based on the US market Ford Granada, to the success of Cadillac's Nova-based 1976 Seville.
The Versailles does have one feature of note, however--it was the first US automobile to use a basecoat/clearcoat paint process.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Keep in mind you have to judge by (very) different standards for 1976.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Yup, although from that angle it could just as easily be a Cutlass Salon which tells you why GM eventually went bust. They forgot there's supposed to be a difference.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
With the 302 V8, on the other hand. . . actually it was still pretty lame, as the primitive emission controls choked it down to about 130 hp. Still, what a sleeper you could built out of a Fairmont Squire wagon with a modern crate motor. . .
I believe Car & Driver built a "Boss Wagon" using a Fairmont as the starter vehicle.
I think that is the fox platform, right? So it was essentially a sedan version of the Mustang of that time (which also came with the anemic 4 cyl base engine way back when).
SO, a nicely worked 302 with a 4 speed, and some bolt on brake and suspension tweaks from the mustang catalogue, and you could have quite the performance family sedan bargain!
Hmm, light weight, RWD, roomy but compact performance sedan/wagon. Dang, wish they built that now! Sounds like (and frankly, would probably perform like) a 3 series from the mid-late 80s.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I had a '78 with the 302. I drove it in Germany during my tour there, and it kept up with the natives quite well. If you've driven there you know what that means...
It was a good car, it lasted 13 years before the rust got to it.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Man, that works like magic. Thanks. Now I will be able to read the 15 or so messages that always follow the picture in the displayed screen.
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
Thank you. Glad it worked for you this time.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
No, it was stock. I think you mean quick, the Fairmont would do around 100 MPH.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Honda Nissan Toyota Dodge... err, VW?VW must have made a typo and substituted an M for the N and transposed a couple of vowels. Someone in the ad agency probably dropped the whiteboard when they were coming up with names.
Parka that Amorak right here.
Are they nuts? :sick: :confuse: Even I would consider one if offered with a a diesel and DSG and I don't like picky-ups.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
VW does not enjoy a reputation for...ahem...toughness....
If you drove a German product you might understand it a little. I'm not going to tell you a VW, Mercedes or any other German product will deliver appliance-like reliability but I'm of the opinion that, properly maintained (i.e. by the book), they will deliver good service and a superior driving experience. I like to tell people they can't understand how good German cars are until they drive one that's flipped the nines on the odo.
My '00 BMW 528iA runs better at 121K miles than my MIL's '00 LeSabre at 42K miles (both have been maintained by the book).
Don't tar all German cars with the same brush either, a number of different BMW, Audi, and even VW models are on CR's "recommended" list for 2009. Mercedes is not doing so well.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
The little old lady from Pasadena
Go granny, go granny, go granny go
Has a pretty little flower bed of white gardenias
Go granny, go granny, go granny go
But parked in her rickety old garage
Is a brand new shiny red Super Stock Dodge
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
"AND EVERYBODY SAID THERE WAS NOBODY MEANER
THAN THE LITTLE OLD LADY FROM PASADENA..."