Forgotten or suppressed Ford models
12/14/2022
Ford USA has given us some great and impressive vehicles, such as the Ford Mustang, the GT40, the Thunderbird or even the F100, if you like trucks.
However, Ford Detroit also produced cars that are barely remembered and that will probably never become particularly popular and sought-after classics, even though they may already be super rare today.
The Ford Tempo and Mercury Topaz pairing (above) can serve as an example. These were compact saloons that were introduced in 1983. With a wheelbase of 253.5 cm and an overall length of 447.5 cm with a width of just 168 cm, these vehicles were really comparatively small, and at 1075 to 1110 kg they were also light, especially compared to their predecessors. Initially, the engine was exclusively a 2.3-liter four-cylinder that produced 91 hp at 4600 rpm. With front-wheel drive, independent suspension all round and a brake system with discs at the front and drums at the rear, it featured standard technologies. The steering was power-assisted on request, and air conditioning was also offered.
As the cars were intended to be economical, the main focus was on the shape. As a two-door model, the Ford Tempo had a drag coefficient of 0.36, while the four-door Mercury Topaz achieved 0.37.
Ford had high hopes for the new "compacts". The product record of the first Mustang was to be surpassed in the first 12 months. And the Ford Tempo and Mercury Topaz were indeed a success, with 1.3 million units sold by 1987. And yet these cars are almost forgotten today, or they have simply been pushed aside.
