The 1980’s were a wild time for America’s automakers as they collectively realized that imports from both Europe and Asia were eating into their market share. Each company responded in a different way. GM, for example, stuck with cost-cutting and badge engineering, while Chrysler based pretty much every one of their cars on the K-platform.

And Ford? Ford figured “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em,” taking on a distinctly European flair to its lineup. This all culminated in the launch of the Merkur brand in 1985, though by 1989 the experiment came to a disappointing close. That said, Merkur still delivered at least one car worth knowing; the XR4 TI, a turbocharged, rear-wheel drive coupe, that was fast, fun, and incredibly unreliable.

But today’s eBay Find of the Day claims to have dealt with all of the reliability issues, and in the process the seller has restored to near showroom condition one of these rare cult classics. With a starting bid of just $3,800, how could you say no to this German Ford?

On paper, the Merkur was just what Ford needed; fuel-efficient yet fun, sporting a technologically-advanced turbocharged four-cylinder engine, rear-wheel drive, and European luxury on the inside. But sales were stymied by a high sticker price and a reputation as a problem child.

This eBay auction claims to have solved many of the Merkur’s problems, though the project will require some finishing touches. Even so, there aren’t many Merkurs left out there that are as clean or as well put-together as this one. It’d make a nice cruiser, daily driver, or low-end collector car. Any way you put it though, this Merkur deserves a decent home.