Mercury

Mercury, named after the Roman god of speed and commerce, was created by Ford Motor Company to bridge the gap between its affordable Ford models and the luxurious Lincoln brand. Ford envisioned Mercury as a line of cars that combined elegance, performance, and economy—vehicles refined enough to attract sophisticated buyers but priced within reach of the middle class.

The brand’s first model, the Mercury Eight, also known as the “Super Ford,” debuted in 1939 with a 95-horsepo...