The Mercury Marauder is a car nameplate used and marketed by the Mercury division of Ford Motor Company from 1963 to 1965, 1969 to 1970, and 2002 to 2004. The Marauder, advertised as the highest-performing model in the full-size product line, got its name from the Mercury line's most powerful engine options.
History of the Mercury Marauder
First Generation Mercury Marauder (1963–1965)
As a model of the three Mercury full-size series, including the Monterey, Monterey Custom, and S-55, the Mercury Marauder nameplate debuted in 1963½. The Marauder was first presented as a "1963½" model in the middle of the year. The Marauder vehicle was offered for the model year 1964 in three trim levels: the entry-level Monterey, the middle-level Montclair, and the top-tier Parklane. Marauders were now offered as four-door vehicles. In 1964, the Mercury Marauder became available in four-door hardtops; in addition to two doors, the four-door hardtops also had a fastback roofline. Mercury maintained the previous "Breezeway" roofline models. Mercury's marketing for 1965 highlighted the car's deluxe and close ties to Lincoln. A restyled S-55 replaced the Marauder for the 1966 model year as Mercury shifted away from full-sized performance cars. Additionally, the company combined the three model lines' options into a single nameplate with this change.
Engines:
- 390 cu in (6.4 L) V8
- 406 cu in (6.7 L) V8
- 427 cu in (7.0 L) V8
Second Generation Mercury Marauder (1969–1970)
Mercury brought back the Marauder moniker to their product lineup for the 1969 model year. The Marauder, which replaced the performance-focused S-55, was marketed as a personal luxury vehicle. It competed with the 1969 Ford Thunderbird for customers by attempting to capitalize on the interest generated by the 1968 introduction of the Mercury Cougar and the 1968 Lincoln Continental Mark III. The market for full-size, high-performance vehicles had primarily dried up by the conclusion of the 1960s. In contrast to the Marauder, Mercury would sell nearly 173,000 Cougars simultaneously, selling about 15,000 examples in 1969 and only about one-third of that number in 1970. From 1969 to 1b970, the Continental Mark III, which was considerably more expensive, outperformed the Marauder by a factor of more than two. Mercury unveiled the Marauder X-100 to provide a version of the Marauder with greater performance.
Revival (2003–2004)
Mercury presented the Marauder concept car at the 2002 Chicago Auto Show to gauge consumer enthusiasm for the nameplate's return after a 33-year absence. Thus, the American company unveiled the 2003 Marauder the following year. The final version of the vehicle was a four-door sedan, as opposed to the concept car's five-passenger convertible. Perhaps that was a mistake, but the car was a good choice. The Ford Panther platform, the basis for the Crown Victoria and the Lincoln Town Car, served as its underpinning.
Price
In 2004, Mercury retailed the 2004 Mercury Marauder with a starting price of $34,325, which is around $53,836.
Features of the Mercury Marauder
Exterior Features
Although there were specific differences, it was simple to tell the Marauder apart from the renowned Police car just by glancing at it. The front fascia had a black mesh grille between the headlights, and the bumper had two foglights on either side of the apron. With its five-spoke light-alloy wheels, it appeared to be a car that had been factory tuned. At the back, the corner-mounted taillights had three horizontal slats, like on the Mustang, whereas the traditional, cab-rearward design had a nearly vertical, thick C-pillar.
Interior Features
The vehicle inside features a forward-tilted dash panel with built-in CD audio above the center stack between the central vents. Unlike the Crown Victoria, the Marauder had an extra set of gauges for the voltage and oil pressure, which had white dials and red needles. The automaker added red needles and white dials to the instrument cluster. Considering the tall transmission tunnel, the rear seats were cozy enough for three people.
Release Date
Mercury, the division of Ford Motor Company, released the Mercury Marauder from 1963 to 2004.