The GM hierarchy is usually recognized as Cadillac on top, then Buick, then Olds, then Pontiac, then Chevy.(Or at least it was back in the past)
With Ford Motor Co. Where does Mercury fit in. Is it above or below Ford?
Above, with Lincoln above that, although Mrecury models tend to be closer in design to Fords than, say Buicks are to Chevys.
…let me know how Oldsmobile in doing in the hierarchy after you get the news.
Doh! …“IS doing”…
damn Gaudere.
It’s not “above or below Ford.” It IS Ford. Always has been.
In Mercury’s early days, there was a distinction, perhaps. A Mercury was favored over Fords and Chevys for racing, for instance.
These days, it’s “Ford-Lincoln-Mercury.” Ford bought Lincoln, back in the 1920’s, but Ford created Mercury in the late 1930’s.
I’m not sure there’s a hierarchy at all, either with FMC or GM. Your GM example ignores the fact that Chevrolet is and has been for decades the top moneymaker in the GM line. Are you leaning more towards “class” as your basis?
These days, Mercury cars are nothing more or less than knockoffs of Fords (Grand Marquis = Crown Vic). Chrysler did the same dumb thing with Plymouth and Dodge (Voyager = Caravan; Omni = Omni; they didn’t even bother to change the name). GM is no better about tacking different badges on the same basic automobile; GM just has more nameplates to choose from.
THe Merc was originally a dressed up Ford-much like Todays.Starting in the '49 year they became more similar,appearancewise,to Lincoln.
It was supposed to fill the Oldsmobile/Buick GM niche.
Can’t recall offhand when that styling came back to the dressed up Ford,but those drivetrains are basically the same thru all the Ford line for years.(Ford,Merc,Lincoln Towncar.)
The Tbird,Cougar and Continental now share basically the same power plants,IIRC.And I think,a similar skin.
Car mavens can correct or expand on these at will.
The Tbird and Cougar have shared the same, well, everything for most of the past 20 years until recently. The Tbird has gone “retro” and turned into a car for people that know nothing about cars. The Cougar shares a FWD platform with another car, but I can’t think of it right now.
And yes, Mercury is between Ford and Lincoln.
The Continental (sadly) no longer exists. 
As for hierarchies, GM and Ford take different approaches. For my discussion I’ll leave out “foreign” brands like Saab, Volvo, Jaguar, etc.
Ford tries to built an “everybody car,” i.e, the most common denominator product that a quorum of people will purchase. GM’s approach is to take the same basic car but make it distinguishable-enough among its different marks such that there’s a car aimed at every segment. Ford’s approach is cheaper and thus profitable. GM’s approach costs more, but economy of scale makes it just as profitable.
The Ford hierarchy: truck platforms aside, the largest margins are returned by Lincoln products. Of course, if you’re never in a Lincoln showroom, you’ll never be able to appreciate a Lincoln automobile. So Mercury exists partially to draw customers into Lincoln showrooms. Sure the 22-y/o new parents can only afford a Taurus now, but in five years they may be ready for a Lincoln LS. This is a bit more difficult for Mercury dealers now, since the Mystique and the Mercury-branded Escort/Focus don’t exist – there’s nothing to lure in the younger/broker buyers into Lincoln-Mercury dealers in the hopes of making them future Lincoln customers. Additionally, Mercurys, which being essentially identical to Fords, are typically a bit more upscale. The interior of a Taurus is horrendous to me, but a Sable is just beautiful. Furthermore, FMC is distinguishing them a bit more. Mercury has the Marauder. Ford has the T-Bird and Mustang. Mercury has the Cougar and . Overall it’s good to see Ford distinguishing the lineup more.
GM is essentially broken up into Truck, MidLux (midsize/luxury, including Cadillac), and Small Car Group. The individual brand divisions have all but died. The current concept is badge engineering, which means taking a single platform and apting it – distinctly – for each of the vehicle marks, each of which is targeted at a different demographic with the styling particular to that demographic. It’s commonly recognized that it flows Cadillac, Buick, Olds, Pontiac, GMC, and Chevy, but that’s not necessarily the real truth. The same GMT800 truck platform delivers Cadillacs, GMCs and Chevys. The Ugly-car platform delivers Pontiacs, Olds, and Buicks. The P90 delivers Chevys and Buicks. For the most part they’re different enough that they can be recognized as cousins rather than brothers (a la Ford). Additionally, when you buy a Mercury instead of a Ford, you expect a “nicer” version of the same vehicle. This isn’t necessarily so in GM’s case. When you buy an Alero, you think you’re getting something completely different than a Grand Am. When you buy a Bonneville you’re getting something completely different than a Seville. But in both cases, you’re getting the same basic car.
Dodge
Omni , Omni 024, Charger, Charger GLH
Plymouth
Horizon, Horizon TLC, Turismo, Duster
My understandign was that once their was a difference between the sub-brands but now all it is is some sort of snob appeal.
I have taken the order as
Ford, Mer. Linc.
Chevy, (Point- Buic- Olds)*, Cat
Plym, Dodg,Chry.
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- middle GM grades appealed to market segments and not really a step up from each other.