My first was a 1957 Merc with 312 cu in and push button auto. It would do a quarter in 14 flat at 111 mph adding gas slowly to not spin the old bias ply stock tires and letting the tranny do the shifting. Never stressed the car by revving against the brakes, spinning tires and manually controlling the shifts. I do know that it shifted automatically 2-3 at 75, but it would do 75 in 1st, 110 in 2nd if you shifted manually. I have since had the following Mercs in the family: a 1960, 1965, 1970, 1979, 1983, 1985, 1989 (2), 1999. Only the 1985 and 1999 were Grand Marquis. The 1985 only died two years ago due to an electrical short that kept making it hard to start and no one could find. I bought the 1999 two months ago with 16,000 miles. Love the car, 26mpg @ 80mph. However, how do you grease the front end?...there seems to be a shortage of grease zerts and the front end squeaks going over things like speed bumps.