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Editor's note: This is part of a series at KSL.com featuring some of Utah's coolest cars. If you own a customized vehicle — from sports cars to semitrucks — email fjolley@ksl.com with a photo of the vehicle and a brief description for consideration.NORTH LOGAN — In 1987, Ronald Reagan was in the White House, Ford was doing well with the modern-looking Taurus and Randy Rust was a firefighter in Yosemite. Rust drove a Toyota he inherited from his grandmother, but he wanted something “more responsive” for the twisty mountain roads where he lived.
Ford somehow felt Rust’s yearnings, set up an entire sub-brand called “Merkur” (Mercury in German) and imported a model from its European division that it called the “XR4Ti.” The vehicle looked like a relative to the domestic Fords but had its own look and feel; a look and feel that caught Rust’s eye.
At the time, European cars had plenty of ashtrays but no cupholders, and the Merkur is no exception.
Rust said the salesman who took him on a test drive went so fast that people yelled at him. The XR4Ti has independent suspension and a 2.3-liter turbo driving the rear wheels. He was sold and said a month after he bought the car, the dealer tried to buy it back from him.
The whole Merkur project was shut down a few years later. Online forums about the car typically either love or hate it, but even those who owned one with problems, still give it props for its ride. Rust said his experience has been great — no problems, and after 30 years, he said just the AC and tachometer don’t work.
In 2016, Rust anticipated smog problems and considered selling his German Ford. Then the ol’ Merkur turned 30 and became exempt. His wife, Susan, will make it quite clear that the XR4Ti is not for sale. The Rusts bought a Subaru WRX new in 2002, and the XR4Ti went into protected status. It is currently covered and babied but taken to car shows.
Brian Champagne has reported on cars for more than nine years. He holds a master's degree in communications from the University of the Pacific and teaches at Utah State University. Contact him at iaabfl@yahoo.com.
