Page "Mercury (automobile)" Paragraph 19

Although the Bobcat trickled out of showrooms, Mercury introduced the Monarch as a replacement for the aging Comet compact.

Although still mechanically based on the original 1960 Ford Falcon, the Monarch was intended as a compact near-luxury car ; high-trim versions were popular choices as personal cars among Ford executives.

In 1978, the Monarch's replacement, the Zephyr was introduced on the Fox platform.

An all-new rear-wheel drive platform, it would be used by all late 1970s-early 1980s Mercurys except the Bobcat, Lynx / LN7 / Topaz, and the Grand Marquis / Colony Park.