Same body? I don't think so. The Mercury's 1/4 panels, doors, fenders, hood, bumpers, trim, grille, tail assembly, and interior, were all different. When the basic roof, sail panels, and chassis are used, but every other panel was different, does this constitute "the same car"?
Was the 1970 Chevelle SS the same as a 1970 Buick GS? They shared the same chassis, roof, windshield, and windows, but every other panel was different. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img]
The Merc XL-100 was marketed as a "sporty" two-door, with a two-tone (darker hue) on the tunnel back, and they promoted it as a luxury performance car. The overall look, with the squared off fenders, skirts, etc., makes it very unusual, similar to the 1970 Chrysler 300-H. I think that was my original comment as to "what was Mercury thinking?", because even in original reviews of the XL-100, the road testers were baffled as to what Mercury was trying to accomplish.
[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]
