Junkyard Find: 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Junkyard Find: 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis

09 - 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis Down On the Junkyard - Picture courtesy of Murilee Martin Here's another Junkyard Find that deserves the Sajeev's Bitter Tears label. It qualifies for the Brown Car Appreciation Society, it's an early Panther, and it's a top-trim-level Grand Marquis (owners of which looked down their noses at lowly Marquis Brougham owners). Let's explore this exquisite example of Late Malaise Era crypto-luxury, shall we?
13 - 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis Down On the Junkyard - Picture courtesy of Murilee Martin These cars were the same under the skin as the LTD and Continental, and they weren't bad drivers (by the standards of the time).
07 - 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis Down On the Junkyard - Picture courtesy of Murilee Martin Opera lights! Trivia question: what was the last year for factory-installed opera lights on an American car? I'm guessing this feature made it well into the 21st century.
06 - 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis Down On the Junkyard - Picture courtesy of Murilee Martin This one's a little rough, though it's a completely rust-free California car.
17 - 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis Down On the Junkyard - Picture courtesy of Murilee Martin So much trim. So much vinyl.
14 - 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis Down On the Junkyard - Picture courtesy of Murilee Martin You see a lot of police-organization and AAA-related stickers on these cars, which is not surprising given the elderly demographic that preferred them.
03 - 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis Down On the Junkyard - Picture courtesy of Murilee Martin Steering-wheel cruise-control buttons showed a lot of faith in Ford's ability to make a clockspring and/or sliding electrical contacts work.
10 - 1981 Mercury Grand Marquis Down On the Junkyard - Picture courtesy of Murilee Martin Ford (and Chrysler) loved these fake vents in the early 1980s. Why?