Made In Oz: 1991 Mercury Capri XR2

The first Ford product to wear the Capri badge was a German built Ford and a few years later it was recycled as the Mercury Capri (a thinly disguised Mustang produced during the 1980's.)  The Capri nameplate left in 1986, but the name would appear again in 1991 on an entirely different car while the 3rd gen Fox Mustang was still in production. This time the Capri lived on a front-wheel-drive platform from the Mazda 323 (similar to Mercury Tracer) but it was built in Australia but not sold in right-hand-drive.  It only survived for a few years but the one to get is the turbocharged XR2 with a manual gearbox. Find this 1991 Mercury Capri XR2 offered for $2450 in East Mesa, AZ via craigslist.

Uncommonly Odd: 2000 Mercury Cougar Roush Edition

Roush Performance was launched in 1995 as a way for NASCAR legend Jack "Panama Hat" Roush to provide power to the people.  Roush Performance got a reputation for making fast 'n' loud Mustangs, but they also dabbled in other Fords like the Focus and F-150...but for two years in the early millennium, they built about 100 examples of something called the Mercury Cougar Roush Edition.  It appears to have been strictly a cosmetic appearance upgrade package, but if you are going to drive a Cougar, this is the one to get. Find this 2000 Mercury Cougar Roush Edition here on eBay bidding for $1000 reserve-not-met located in La Vergne, TN with 1 day to go.

Burn It With Fire: 1984 Mercury Lynx

The lynx rufus (commonly known as the North American bobcat) is a medium sized wildcat that hits the scales at somewhere in the sub 40lbs range and can top 30 mph in sprint.  The Mercury Lynx is a small sized econobox that hits the scales at 2200 lbs and can hit about 86 mph...but I'd guess that having a real live bobcat in your garage would be far less dangerous than a Mercury Lynx.  Find this 1984 Mercury Lynx offered for $999 in Placida, FL via craigslist. Tip from Dascpcu.

Built Stroker: 1973 Mercury Comet GT

If the Ford Maverick is the little known step brother of the Mustang, then it's cousin the Mercury Comet is even more obscure.  The Comet GT trim level was the muscle car trim package that upped the ante with the 302 V8 engine.  These cars were originally conceived as import fighters, but in reality duked it out for sales with the Chevy Nova and Dodge Dart...and they make a nice platform for a V8 cruiser today. Find this 1973 Mercury Comet GT offered for $13,200 in Tampa Bay, FL via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

German Ford: 1974 Mercury Capri

Prices for the Mercury/Ford Capri have been historically low for a number of reasons. First was Fords inexplicable placement of the Capri at Mercury dealers when it was a Ford in Europe and sold well as a Ford over there...but in 1974 it was objectively a wayyyy better Mustang than the Mustang II and somebody in the Ford product planning group managed to get the Capri marooned with a Mercury badge...uggg.  The years since haven't been any nicer, because car guys have prefered to drive Opel Mantas and Nissan Z cars...but if you open your heart (and eyes) you might find that the little Capri has something unique to offer. Find this 1974 Mercury Capri offered for $5800 in Phoenix, AZ via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Mercury Rising: 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis 5-Spd

The Ford Crown Victoria (and its sister cars at Lincoln and Mercury, the Town Car and Grand Marquis respectively) was a big body on frame beast built for the fleet car market.  Cops, security guards, limo drivers, and old people put billions of miles on the 1.5 million examples that rolled off Fords production lines from 1993-2012...but the biggest downside from the perspective of a guy like me was the lack of a manual gearbox.  It's no Miata, but that doesn't mean I can't try? This next example finally has the gearbox that'll let you give it a try. Find this 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis offered for $4900 in Annapolis, MD via craigslist. Tip from Eric.

Upscale Granada: 1976 Mercury Monarch

The Mercury Monarch is another unknown oddball, which at first glance looks like a Mercury branded Fox body something-or-other...but it was actually the Mercury equivalent of the Ford Granada and as such, lived on the Comet/Maverick chassis...which was the last hurrah for Ford's aging Falcon chassis.  Find this 1976 Mercury Monarch offered for $2100 in Hamilton, OH via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Mustang Cousin: 1968 Mercury Cougar XR-7

The first generation Mercury Cougar was a bit more than just an up-market Mustang coupe.  It offered a few unique accouterments that were not available on the Mustang (such as pop-up hidden headlights) AND it was only available with V8 power (no wimpy inline-6s for the Cougar). As an additional hidden bonus, today's Cougar is both the hot-rod XR-7 version AND equipped with a 4-speed toploader gearbox.  Find this 1968 Mercury Cougar XR-7 offered for $14,000 in Carrollton, TX via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

German Built: 1972 Mercury Capri V6

I seriously hate to post another German Capri on the site because the first generation Capri is one of those hidden gems of the vintage automotive world.  It offers a unique combination of driveability, fun, coolness, price, and ...well...uniqueness that is hard to beat for the market price.  Shhhhhhhhhh. Don't tell anyone.  We don't want price on these things to pull an aircooled Porsche. Pleeeeeeeeeease stay cheap Mr Capri! Find this 1972 Mercury Capri V6 offered for $10,500 in Lompoc, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

ASC McLaren Convertible: 1986 Mercury Capri

This next car is about as odd of a combination as you'll find around -- first it is the Mercury Capri from the time when they shared a chassis and powertrain with the Fox-body Mustang, and it is equipped with a manual gearbox, but the kicker is that it is one of the few Capri's put through the ASC McLaren convertible conversion. Find this 1986 Mercury Capri offered for $8000 in Quinton, VA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Midnight Chamois Edition: 1978 Mercury Cougar XR7

I hate the idea of buying a 70s land barge American car and then putting a bunch of time/money into restoring it...because they drive terribly can look odd...but getting a 70s land barge that looks awesome AND is in fantastic shape has serious appeal.  Let's just hope the reserve on this "Midnight Chamois" (whatever that means) edition isn't set to crazy high levels. Find this 1978 Mercury Cougar XR7 here on eBay bidding for $9,100 reserve-not-met with 3 days to go, located in Dallas, TX.

Fast Panther: 2004 Mercury Marauder

Some cars have a cool back story and others are just plain cool.  I'm not sure what is the backstory behind Mercury's Marauder, but it was a bit more than just a hot rod version of the Mercury Grand Marquis, which was really just a fancified version of the Ford Crown Victoria. Regardless, somehow, some product planner at Mercury in the early 2000s Mercury's managed to convince the normally shortsighted bean counters at Mercury to let them shove the 302 horsepower Ford Mustang Mach 1 DOHC 4-valve engine into the full-sized Panther platform sedan and the rest is tire burning hot rod history.  Find this 2004 Mercury Marauder offered for $6500 with those 22" blingy wheels and, mercifully, $5000 with stock 17" steelies located in Phoenix, AZ via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Almost Christmas: 1971 Mercury Comet GT

The Ford Maverick is a cool ride if you don't mind some early 70s style and a simple mechanical setup, but anybody will tell you is that the best way to drive an early 70s Ford is with a Mercury badge on the hood. Find this 1971 Mercury Comet GT offered for $8775 in Los Angeles, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Hertz Rent-A-Racer: 1968 Mercury Cougar XR7-G

The legend of the Shelby Mustang GT350-H Hertz race ready rental cars is an old campfire story among car guys, but a little known fact is that there were a few hundred Mercury Cougar XR7-G (G for Gurney...as in Dan Gurney) rental ready racers built alongside the Shelby Mustangs. This next example is a complete basket case with rust everywhere and a seized engine...but it looks like Dynacorn is getting into the Cougar resto-sheet metal business and for a few tens of thousands of bucks this could be a keeper.  Find this 1968 Mercury Cougar XR7-G here on eBay bidding for $4,750 reserve-not-met located in Lake Elsinore, CA with 2 days to go.

A Ford By Any Other Name: 1974 Mercury Capri

Prices for the Mercury/Ford Capri have been historically low for a number of reasons. First was Fords inexplicable placement of the Capri at Mercury dealers when it was a Ford in Europe and sold well as a Ford over there...but in 1974 it was objectively a wayyyy better Mustang than the Mustang II and somebody in the Ford product planning group managed to get the Capri festooned with a Mercury badge.  The years since haven't been any nicer, because car guys have prefered to drive Opel Mantas and Nissan Z cars...but if you open your heart (and eyes) you might find that the little Capri has something unique to offer. Find this 1974 Mercury Capri offered for $4995 in Mason, TX via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

TBird Turbo Power: 1986 Mercury Grand Marquis Wagon

Whenever someone (usually a new acquaintance, typically in an elevator, or other confined space with little escape like a sauna or an any gender restroom, who was trying to hide in his/her phone) asks me what, exactly, is Daily Turismo?  I pause, and attempt to articulate that it is a blog masquerading as a media company about cars...and specifically a curated collection of cool cars for sale.  But, what I should say is this -- it is a t-bird turbo swapped Mercury wagon from the 80s for a decent price.  Most will go back to their twitter rant, meme like-a-thon, or Pokemon Goat, but a few would get it and perk up.  For those few, I present this 1986 Mercury Grand Marquis Wagon offered for $3000 in Bethlehem, because where else would a chariot fit for a king be located?...oh...not that Bethlehem.  Right.  Bethlehem, PA. Tip from David K.

LSX Powaaaaaaaah: 1978 Mercury Zephyr Z7

The Mercury Zephyr (not to be confused with the California Zephyr, British Ford Zephyr or pre-war Lincoln Zephyr) was produced as a sedan, coupe and the uniquely styled Z7 coupe.  The roof treatment is ostensibly an homage to the 1950 Ford Crown Victoria, but looks to us like an El Camino with a truncated truck bed cover.  It is called a 'wrap around roof' but looks more like a gigantic ill conceived B-pillar...which, I'm happy to report, we can forgive because this thing should do a burnout from San Francisco to New York City.  Find this 1978 Mercury Zephyr Z7 offered for $7500 in Farmville, VA via craigslist. Tip from Pushrod.