Mercury

Mercury was an American automotive brand founded in 1938 by Edsel Ford to fill the gap between mainstream Ford and luxury Lincoln. Named after the Roman god of speed and commerce, it aimed to offer semi-luxury vehicles with enhanced styling, power, and features, competing with Buick, Oldsmobile, and Chrysler. Headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, Mercury operated as a Ford division until 1945, when it merged into the Lincoln-Mercury Division. The brand peaked in the 1950s-1970s but struggled with identity, becoming mostly rebadged Fords by the 2000s. Ford phased out Mercury in 2011 due to declining sales, with the final vehicle, a Grand Marquis, rolling off the line on January 4, 2011.