Mercury
Mercury was a U.S. automobile marque established by Ford Motor Company in 1938. The brand was conceived by Edsel Ford, son of Henry Ford, to bridge the price gap between the Ford and Lincoln lineups, thus serving the mid-market segment. Mercury produced a variety of notable models, including the Cougar, a popular pony car that initially shared many components with the Ford Mustang, and the Grand Marquis, a full-size sedan that became a staple of the brand. Despite its success in the mid-20th century, Mercury began to struggle in the late 1990s and 2000s due to a variety of factors, including changing consumer preferences, economic conditions, and a lack of unique models that differentiated it from Ford’s other brands. This led to declining sales and market share. In 2010, Ford announced it would discontinue the Mercury brand by the end of the year to focus on its Ford and Lincoln brands. The last Mercury-branded vehicle, a Grand Marquis, rolled off the assembly line in January 2011. Others: Marathon, Mason, and Merkur.
Nash
Nash Motors Company was an American automobile manufacturer that was established in 1916 by Charles W. Nash. Notably, the company introduced several innovations to the automobile industry, such as the unibody construction, bed-in-a-car feature, and the compact economical car segment with the Nash Rambler. Nash Motors became well known for producing a variety of vehicles, from economy and family cars to luxurious models. However, in 1954, Nash merged with Hudson Motor Car Company to form American Motors Corporation (AMC) in a strategic response to competition with the “Big Three” automakers (General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler). The Nash nameplate was last used in 1957, but many of its popular models continued under the AMC brand. The discontinuation of the Nash brand was not due to a failure but a part of a strategic business decision to better compete in the industry. Others: National, Northern Manufacturing, and Nyberg.
Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile was a historic American automobile brand founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. It became a part of General Motors in 1908. Known for its production of notable vehicles such as the Oldsmobile Curved Dash, the first mass-produced car, and the Oldsmobile 442, a popular muscle car, the company was a significant player in the automobile industry. Oldsmobile also introduced the “Rocket V8” engine in the 1949 Rocket 88 model, which is often credited as the first muscle car. Despite these successes, the brand faced declining sales and diluted brand identity in the late 20th century, primarily due to General Motors’ platform-sharing strategies that resulted in similar-looking and performing cars across its divisions. This led to the decision by General Motors to phase out the Oldsmobile brand, and after a short period of producing final models, the last Oldsmobile rolled off the assembly line in April 2004, marking the end of the brand’s 107-year history. Others: Oakland, Olympian, and Overland.
Packard
Packard was a prestigious American luxury automobile manufacturer founded by James Ward Packard, William Doud Packard, and George Lewis Weiss in 1899. The company was known for its engineering excellence, producing high-quality, innovative vehicles like the Packard Twin Six and Packard Twelve, which featured V-12 engines. Packard’s reputation for luxury and reliability made it one of the leading automakers in the United States through the 1920s and 1930s. However, post-World War II market changes, increased competition, and financial difficulties led to the brand’s decline. In 1954, Packard merged with Studebaker, creating the Studebaker-Packard Corporation, but the Packard nameplate was discontinued in 1958. The failure to adapt to changing consumer demands, mismanagement, and the economic challenges of the time were key factors in Packard’s demise. Others: Paige, Pierce-Arrow, Plymouth, and Pontiac.
