2003 Mercury Marauder

Description

The only way to duplicate the experience of owning a Mercury Marauder is to buy a six-figure German luxury sedan. A 32-valve V8, rear-wheel drive, a capable suspension, big brakes, and room for five were all standard equipment in this 2003 Mercury Marauder. Today, these represent one of the most popular segments in the hobby and with rarity on its side, this is the one to own.

Ford only built 328 Dark Blue Pearl Marauders in 2003, and we're betting you never even realized they came in colors other than black. But now that you've seen it, you understand why their owners are so passionate. You could say that Ford was trying to copy Chevy with their Impala SS, but that would be missing the point of the Marauder, which was more sophisticated by design. The full-sized Grand Marquis provided the foundation, and without the heavy chrome and usual gold paint, the big Merc takes on an entirely new personality. Check out the cool headlights, the body-colored grille, and the slightly deeper front and rear fascias, all of which transform Ford's Panther platform sedan into a sleek performance machine. That unusual blue paint remains in very good condition thanks to a passionate owner who kept it in top condition, and with a slight tint on the windows, it still maintains its intimidating presence even without being bathed in black.

If you're young, you may not understand why a full-sized sedan is getting people so excited, but once you slide behind the wheel of this Marauder, you'll understand. There's just nothing like a big American luxury car if space and comfort are priorities. The Marauder got comfortable gray leather buckets in place of the usual bench, as well as a custom center console with a pair of auxiliary gauges built right in. White faced dials give the driver the impression that this Marauder is a close relative of the Mustang Cobra (more on that in a moment) and every single feature was standard, including A/C, power windows, locks, mirrors, and seats, cruise control, a rear defroster, a tilt wheel, and a decent-sounding AM/FM/CD stereo system. The perforated leather remains in excellent shape, particularly the giant back seat, which seems hardly used. You also get one of the world's biggest trunks, which is beautifully finished and includes a spare tire with a matching cover.

But what makes the Marauder truly special is under the hood: a 32-valve dual-overhead cam V8 derived from the Mustang Cobra's powerplant. Rated at a rather impressive 302 horsepower and 318 pounds of torque, it totally transforms Mercury's biggest sedan and turns it into a car that you'll look forward to driving. This one remains unmodified and if the Mustangs are any indicator, it should last practically forever if you take care of it. It's buttery smooth under all conditions and makes the most delicious exhaust note this side of a Ferrari. The 4-speed automatic transmission snaps off 6000 RPM upshifts if you keep your foot planted on the floor, yet cruises in serene silence at near-triple-digit speeds if you let it. The ride and handling compromise is biased towards the ride side more than, say, the Impala SS, which means this Mercury is very easy to live with on today's roads. It's very clean underneath thanks to a lifetime in a warm climate and those giant 18-inch polished alloy wheels with giant 245/55/18 BFGoodrich meats look fantastic against the blue paint.

These are suddenly red-hot collectables and as you can see, prices are on the move. This is the one to keep, with its unusual paint and unmodified powertrain, and they certainly won't be getting any cheaper. Call today!