Some weeks, I don’t set out to do a theme, but one finds me anyway. This is our second day in a row of one-make Showdowns, so I guess I’ll just run with it. Today’s cars both come from Ford’s now-defunct Mercury brand, and they’re both bargains.
Yesterday we were looking at two VW convertibles, and it looks like the newer Mk3 model is the runaway winner. I’m not surprised; it’s cheaper by a thousand bucks, newer by a decade and a half, and significantly less ratty around the edges. Seems like an easy choice.
Except … I’m still drawn to that old crisp-edged Giugiaro styling. And I know the older water-cooled VW mechanicals pretty well. I’d want to make sure the rust isn’t too advanced, but if it checks out, I think I’d rather lavish attention on the ’85 model. If it’s significantly worse than it is in pictures, though, the ’01 could be a good substitute. Stock-height suspension parts can’t be that expensive, can they?
Automotive history is littered with defunct brands, but it’s a little surprising how many we’ve lost in the past few decades. And not just flashes in the pan like Merkur and Eagle, but well-established brands. Plymouth is gone. Oldsmobile and Pontiac too. All of American Motors got swallowed up by Chrysler, and nothing survived except Jeep. And over at Ford, the long-running Mercury brand was declared superfluous and put out to pasture in 2011. Many of Mercury’s models were just Fords with funny grilles, but the brand did have a few cars all to itself over the years. Today, we’re going to look at one Mercury that was a Ford clone, and one that was only ever a Mercury.
1993 Mercury Capri – $1,400
Engine/drivetrain: 1.6-liter DOHC inline 4, five-speed manual, FWD
Location: Klamath Falls, OR
Odometer reading: 133,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Ford is a huge international company, and one benefit of that long reach is that it can pull cars from all over the world to import as needed. When Mazda’s Miata turned out to be a hit, Ford decided to fight back with its own little roadster. Luckily, the perfect candidate was available on the other side of the planet: the Australian-built Ford Capri. The Capri shared some Mazda DNA with the Miata; it’s powered by a version of the same engine, but it’s front-wheel-drive instead of rear. It also doesn’t have nearly the following that the Miata does, so it can be found for a lot cheaper.
The Capri is based on the Australian Ford Laser, which is in turn based on the Mazda Familia/323 platform. It’s powered by Mazda’s B6 1.6-liter four, almost the same engine as the early Miata, only with a little less power and without the cool Italian-looking valve cover. You could get it with either a four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual; this one has the manual. It runs and drives great, according to the seller, but they don’t tell us much else.
The interior is in really good shape, it looks like. Someone may have been a little over-zealous with the Armor All; that dash top is awfully shiny. But over-Armor-Alled is better than dried-out and cracked. By the way, unlike the Miata, the Capri actually has a teeny-tiny back seat. You’d have to really dislike your friends to make them ride back there, but it’s there.
Outside, it’s a good ten-footer. There are some cracks in the front bumper, and a few dings and dents here and there, but the paint is shiny, and there’s no rust. It has new tires on it, and it also comes with a set of studded snow tires for the winter. Oregon doesn’t use road salt, so it shouldn’t have any rust to speak of.
1994 Mercury Tracer Wagon – $2,200
Engine/drivetrain: 1.9-liter OHC inline 4, four-speed automatic, FWD
Location: Portland, OR
Odometer reading: 153,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
When the Ford Escort came to America in 1981, Mercury’s version was called the Lynx, following Mercury’s cat-themed naming convention of the time. But in 1987, Mercury dropped the Lynx in favor of the Tracer, a completely different car based on the BF-platform Mazda 323. In 1991, the Escort and Tracer were reunited on the Mazda BG platform, and there they remained for more than a decade. This little fuchsia wagon is exactly the same thing as a Ford Escort, with the exception of some trim and badges.
The base model Escort and Tracer are powered by a 1.9-liter Ford CVH four-cylinder, in this case backed by a four-speed automatic. The combination is about as exciting as plain oatmeal, but it’s reliable and it gets great mileage. This one has a nearly-new timing belt and runs great, though the seller says it’s “loud.” I’m guessing some exhaust work is needed.
The interior is in good shape, and the seller says everything works, including the air conditioning. I’m sure by now you’ve noticed the motorized seat belts, but what’s even stranger is that it also has a driver’s side airbag. Ford didn’t redesign the Escort and Tracer for non-motorized seat belts until 1997; the 1994-96 models take a belt-and-suspenders approach.
It’s in nice shape outside overall, and you certainly won’t lose it in a parking lot. It’s missing the front hubcaps, and I’m pretty sure the rears aren’t the originals. The headlights could use polishing or replacing, but that’s typical of a car this age.
Both of these look like really good deals to me, if you’re in the market for a cheap car. Either one should be nice and reliable, and neither one will use much gas. It just depends on what you need: are you more in the mood for a sporty convertible, or a handy little wagon?
I used to see a Capri just like the one in the picture all the time in my hometown – a very unexpected sight in Literal Middle of Nowhere, Portugal. Haven’t seen it in years, no idea what may have happened to it.
I’d choose the wagon but c’mon pitting a tiny roadster against a station wagon is always a bit unfaitr towards the tiny roadster.
EDIT: after seeing the Capri is well ahead in the poll, I am now adding salt, vinegar and olive oil to my hat before I proceed to ingest it. I guess I didn’t factor in the price of each of them.
The convertible Capri should have been sold as the Capri-Sun, with name licensing fees to the appropriate company.
I had a Capri. The rear seal of the top was a constant problem but leave it down and you won’t care. The wagon is fine foe every day. This is an excellent two-car solution for the “thrifty” (pronounced cheap) connoisseurs.
I’m sure it’s a bit floppy and rattly and slow, but there’s no way I wouldn’t pick the Capri. Convertible. Red. Manual. Decent shape apparently (I’d examine the raised top carefully of course). Who cares that it isn’t fast, or has pedigree? You can still enjoy driving (I bet), though finding Capri-specific body/trim parts might be an issue down the road.
The Tracer wagon isn’t awful. Wagon. Not unhandsome for what it is. Cool ’90s paint color in decent shape. Not really comparable to the Capri, since the Tracer is practical whereas the Capri really isn’t. But I’ve driven and ridden in a LOT of Escorts/Tracers of that vintage in my mispent youth in New York, and almost all of them were unpleasant to be in, especially while the car was in motion.
So, Capri it is. Shame it’s not teal though.
PS: maybe I don’t know where to look, but I NEVER see decent, old, interesting cars in good(ish) shape like these for sale at these prices in/around Los Angeles. Here, I think the Capri would be advertised at twice the asking price, and that wagon for at least a grand more. It’s like there’s a Southern California tax we must pay for usually rust-free cars in a good weather environment. Since I like weird/small/cheap cars and have room for a couple more, this irks me to no end. (angry face emoticon/emoji thing here)
For less than five grand I get a usable little wagon and a fun little convertible? You’d better believe it’s a “both” day today.
$1400 for a chipper little red convertible with a stick?? Damn, sign me up.
Gotta be the Capri… which reminds me of the banger “Goodnight Jack” by Saint Etienne with the lyrics:
Behind the wheel of my Capri
It seems it like no-ones noticed me
And now you’re coming out from work
And deep inside I feel so hurt
Shouldn’t this have been Monday’s Shitbox Showdown?
I will not stand for The Autopian’s Mercury Monday erasure.
Never forget.
The main problem is if you say “I have a red Mercury”, you get on a terrorist watch list.
Too bad about the dreaded mouse belts in the Tracer.
If the Capri weren’t 3000 or so miles from where I need a car I’d buy it instead of renting for a couple of weeks.
I think parts would be pretty hard to find for the Capri. Don’t break a taillight or a trim piece.
Had a neighbor that owned a blue one with a white top back in the day. Slow car fast for the win
The Capri has one of the most unique and cool looking taillight designs of its era. Isn’t that like an automatic win on this site?
And funny thing is several NA Miata guys LOVE to swap the Capri valve cover onto their Miata engines because it’s a direct drop in replacement. I’ve always thought it was strange since I find the Miata VC more attractive, but some people like the novelty factor of being different I guess.
If I had money, I’d tell you what I’d do
…and if you had money, I’d suddenly listen to your opinion.
Glad to see the both option today, as I was thinking that all the way through the write-up.
If there could be only one, it was going to be the Capri. 5-speed and no mouse belts puts it over the top, but had that wagon been a 5-speed, it would have been a lot harder for me to choose.
I was seriously hoping the wagon would have a manual; no joy.
What the hell, that’s still my choice.
Is it possible to swap capri engine into tracer?
It should be – they’re both related to the Mazda 323 and the Tracer was offered both with the Ford CVH engine that’s in this example and a Mazda-sourced BP engine. Engine mounts should be available to drop one in where the other was. Going from the CVH to the Mazda engines should be a nice improvement in most metrics: NVH goes down, power goes up, reliability goes up.
The Capri was also available with a turbo (and so was the Ford CVH engine if you’re feeling especially crazy), so if you wanted to add a little pressurization it doesn’t go too far afield from factory equipment.
Capri is cheap enough to justify alone on it being a beach car. And if it’s reliable, a quick paint job to bring it down from 10ft to 3ft.
I already have a red convertible. So it’s the Tracer Wagon for me.
#SaveTheMercurys
I’m not a convertible guy, much less a FWD convertible. I am a wagon guy, and the color is great on this one.
But at the end of the day the wagon is just a slightly interesting but mainly mediocre “daily”, while the Capri is cheap enough just to be a fun little runabout for nice spring and fall days. If they were both under $1500 I’d say both, but I’m going with just the Capri today.
Convertibles look great until you drive the noisy leaking things. Also in a rollover I will take a cage and not a cloth top 🙂
Man that Capri looks like a lot of fun for less than $1500! No reservations on my vote today
Autopian conspiracy theory: One-make Showdowns are just a way to soften us up: and then one day a Saab loses one!
“It’s missing the front hubcaps, and I’m pretty sure the rears aren’t the originals.”
For that price I expect four hubcaps.
If it were closer I’d get the Capri and give it to my grandson as a high-school car, and keep the wagon for myself just for the hell of it. That trusty, willing little 1.6 liter and the 5-speed seal the deal and everything you can drive is more fun to drive topless!