Fast Panther: 2004 Mercury Marauder

Some cars have a cool back story and others are just plain cool.  I'm not sure what is the backstory behind Mercury's Marauder, but it was a bit more than just a hot rod version of the Mercury Grand Marquis, which was really just a fancified version of the Ford Crown Victoria. Regardless, somehow, some product planner at Mercury in the early 2000s Mercury's managed to convince the normally shortsighted bean counters at Mercury to let them shove the 302 horsepower Ford Mustang Mach 1 DOHC 4-valve engine into the full-sized Panther platform sedan and the rest is tire burning hot rod history.  Find this 2004 Mercury Marauder offered for $6500 with those 22" blingy wheels and, mercifully, $5000 with stock 17" steelies located in Phoenix, AZ via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Don't Call Me Marquis- 2004 Mercury Marauder

The Chevy Caprice SS made quite a statement when it was introduced in 1994.  It was a old school muscle sedan for the 90's that got rid of lot of the chrome styling, fitted steamroller 17" tires, and had a proper V8 drivetrain.  Why I am writing about the Caprice you may ask?  Ford decided to answer the car seven years after the Caprice left the streets for 2003 Mercury Marauder.  The Marauder was a luke warm effort that could get beat at the stop light Grand Prix by a same year Accord V6.  However, there are too many engine mods to count to right that wrong. It seems half of these models you see for sale have been supercharged.  Find this stock 2004 Mercury Marauder for sale in Granby, CT for $3,000 via craigslist.

Arrrgggg: 1969 Mercury Marauder

The Marauder name was used by Mercury for 3 unique generations -- each of which was for a period of 2 years and if you ask me (you did...right?) the coolest is the 1969-1970 land barge edition that featured a fastback roofline and pony keg sized pistons that thumped away under a carburetor.  Find this 1969 Mercury Marauder offered for $7,800 in Deer Park, OH via craigslist.

The Blue Planet: 1965 Mercury Marauder

The Marauder name was first used to describe the V8 engine package used on the Mercury Montclair and Colony Park, but it soon became more than just an engine option.  By 1965, adding the Marauder name to your Monterey, Montclaire or Park Lane meant you had a big block V8, NASCAR inspired fastback roofline, bucket seats, and a center console. Find this 1965 Mercury Marauder offered for $11,900 in Miami, FL via craigslist.  Tip from FuelTruck.

V8 Hardtop: 1963 Mercury Marauder

You know the formula. It has been this way for years and I don't care what decade you pick, this is guaranteed to be correct.  Here it is: 2 doors + big V8 + bench seats + NASCAR inspired roofline + column shifted auto + original teal green paint =  winner.  That simple.  Find this 1963 Mercury Marauder offered for 1963 Mercury Marauder here on eBay bidding for $12,601 reserve-not-met with a few hours to go, located in Elkhorn, NE.

Cobra Power: 2004 Mercury Marauder

A name can say a lot about a car.  The Roadmaster name, for instance, says that the car is going to dominate the road -- ignore its undulations/curves/protests and arrive at is destination in spite of the road.  However, if you are looking for a car named to match a swashbuckling life, or a car for the thinking Raider fan, you won't find anything better than Mercury's Marauder.  Like this 2004 Mercury Marauder here on eBay bidding for $5,101 reserve-not-met with 3 days to go, located in Middleboro, MA.

5k: Pirate Ship: 1965 Mercury Marauder Park Lane

The Marauder name was first used on an engine option package for Mercury Montclair and Colony Park models in the late '50s.  The Marauder later became an option package for the full sized Monterey, Montclair, and Park Lane and it was the car (in fastback form) that Mercury used for NASCAR racing.  The street version was equipped with big block engines, bucket seats and a center console.  Find this 1965 Mercury Marauder Park Lane offered here on craigslist for $4,900 via craigslist located in Dublin, CA. Tip from FuelTruck.

15k: Pirate Powered: 1969 Mercury Marauder X-100 429ci V8

The Mercury Marauder comes from an era when buyers wanted performance from their full sized body-on-frame luxury cars..and that performance didn't come from turbochargers or electronic gizmos - it came from displacement.  Those big block engines pulverized fuel economy and turned the air black but will put a smile on your face from ear to ear.  Find this 1969 Mercury Marauder X-100 429ci V8 for sale in Phoenix, AZ for $16,500 via craigslist.

5k: NotACop: 2003 Mercury Marauder

The Mercury Marauder was a hot rod version of the Mercury Grand Marquis, which was really just a tarted up version of the Ford Crown Victoria. In the early 2000s Mercury's product lunatics managed to convince someone to let them shove the 302 horsepower Ford Mustang Mach 1 DOHC 4-valve engine into the full-sized Panther platform sedan and the rest is history.  Find this 2003 Mercury Marauder for sale in Wichita, KS for $5900 via craigslist.