1987 Mercury Topaz Manufacturer Promo
Up until 1987, no one figured the Ford Tempo/Mercury Topaz twins for anything more exotic than say, premium stereo. Solid little commuters they were, made a bit better by the 2.3 liter HSO (high specific output) 4-cylinder engine and 5-speed manual. For 1987, about one year after the system was announced, Tempo/Topaz were available with all wheel drive. All Wheel Drive, in fact was the individual Tempo 4WD model. Topaz offered the system separately as an option. It appeared remarkably free of cumbersome hardware of rexotic maintenance requirements, and increase the ride height only an incremental 0.5 in. No special tires were required, nor were any recommended. All wheel drive was engaged manually by selecting the mode with the dashboard rocker switch. It actuated the system by which driving power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a Dana power takeoff, driveshaft, and rear axle. Before you run out and try to find one in white to make over a Topaz 4WD rally car, be informed that Ford engineers of the day were the first to disclaim any genuine sporting influence in the system. The arrangement was intended for part time usage only, in the wet and slippery, and not for full time tearing around on what you hope are deserted mountain highways. Charles L. Knighten, who was vice president for Ford Small and mid size car engineering, commented that the Ford 4wd cars were not intended to be mini-Quattros, but rather sources of comfort and relief in the snow or other inclement weather when traction is marginal. More for the family, not the enthusiast. For the housewife and suburbanite.
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The slow motion of the airbag deploying is hilarious!
so much flail!
Wow. Half the video was demonstrating what an airbag is!
Pretty interesting considering the SRS was quite a new item in the 80s!
I really enjoyed the “Translator 8000”