Classic Car Overview
1989 Merkur Scorpio Touring Sedan For consignment, a 1989 Merkur Scorpio Touring Sedan, one of just 21,886 Scorpios imported to the U.S. between 1987 and 1989. This one has had a recent engine rebuilt, new A/C, wiring harness, and battery. Exterior Definite Mercury and Taurus vibes from the front end where flush headlights squeeze a narrow nose and grille opening in the middle with a body keyed bumper over fog lights down low. In profile, the European influence is represented by the rear glass panel and sloping D-pillar that terminates in a vertical tail, less odd than a Citroen BX, but shaped like an executive version of the French family car. In back, a panel of red makes up the tail lights and reflector panel in an unmistakable pattern that occupies most of the rear real estate and includes an integrated third brake light, just in case you miss the panel. Unique 15-inch Merkur wheels carry 205/60R15 tires with an early 2021 date code. The wheel center caps show some discoloration, and the rims have paint chips and bubbling paint. Nearly flush door handles and a rear wiper exhibit more European flair. Imperfections on the paint include bubbling, scrapes and scratches, and chipping paint. Interior Perforated leather inserts occupy the black plastic door cards which have a sizable storage bin in front and a carpeted panel in back. The doors are tidy, efficient, and clean. Heavily cushioned front seats combine sporty support with luxurious softness and there is heavy wear on the front leather including tears, wrinkles, and compression. The rear bench also shows decent wear and has a split in a top seam. Ford influence shows on the simple steering wheel which shares its column with short, European style stalks, all leading to a basic gauge cluster, a panel of three sections that include tachometer, speedometer, oil pressure, and temperature, along with a car diagram for open doors. In 80s fashion, theres a trip computer on the dash and to the right of the wheel is the A/C panel. Under a faux wood trim piece we find the radio, an AM/FM/CD unit our consignor states is new but not hooked up. The non descript shifter is of Ford DNA, and the lumbar pumps, like blood pressure balloons, flank the center console. Classic 80s, (and found in some 90s cars too!). A diamond stitched armrest looks like an addon while the low pile carpet provides a clean cover for the floor. The headliner is a bit loose and discolored and the vented sunroof cover could also use a detail. Drivetrain Under the hood is a driver quality and rebuilt 2.9 liter V6 rated at 144 horsepower and receiving dino juice via electronic fuel injection. An A4LD 4-speed automatic transmission sends power to the rear wheels and 3.64 gears while power disc brakes are found front and rear. With its large intake plenum and dual air hoses, a detailed version of this engine could be a showy piece of unique engine configuration. Undercarriage Its patina city underneath with plenty of surface rust, some of it pitied, and considerable flakey rust on the inner rocker panels and body braces. Grease is noted on the axles at the rear differential and some residual oil on the transmission pan. For suspension, the car is equipped with MacPherson struts in front and semi trailing arm with coil springs in back. A single exhaust meets a stock style muffler before exiting in the back. Drive-Ability Im getting first gen Taurus SHO vibes from this car, another Ford that combined some performance interior cues with luxury aspirations. And visibility is akin to the Subaru SVX with all of the glass that surrounds the cabin, there are no blind spots. We roll onto the test loop to check functionality and the car runs well, tracks well, and the brakes do what theyre supposed to do. As noted, the radio does not work but all other functions in the car operate as expected. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase. Perhaps lesser known and more obscure than the XR4Ti, Scorpios are still welcome sights at car shows and on the rare occasion you see one on the road. With some attention to the cosmetic issues, you could have a very nice and relatively rare car from perhaps the heyday of quirky cars, (think Subaru XT, Laforza, Buick Reatta, etc.). Merkurs gather each year at Ford Nationals in nearby Carlisle, Pennsylvania so were confident you wont be alone in your endeavors to own this unique automobile. Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (thats more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person. With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy listening. You can also watch on YouTube!