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30K-Mile 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis

“Medium-priced luxury” was Mercury’s description of the mid-level Grand Marquis, and for the era, it was a big, smooth, quiet luxurious car. Actually, it still is today, and with modern, powerful, luxury SUV gas mileage levels, too. The seller, a familiar dealer in Staunton, Illinois, has this eyes-wide-open (headlights) 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis listed here on eBay with a $9,950 asking price or you can make an offer.

I hope the next owner can track down the vacuum leak to make sure that the headlight covers stay closed. Although we don’t know how long this Grand Marquis has been sitting, maybe it’s been months or even years. Who knows, we don’t. This was one of the last cars to use vacuum hoses and a spring system for the headlight covers. The springs were because the lights had to be fully functional within four seconds so they would spring open. Those springs could be another reason why MPG suffered on these cars, since the engines were working overtime to keep the headlight covers down when the lights weren’t on and the springs wanted to open them and were working against the vacuum.

Mercury offered three levels of Marquis and none of them were exactly rough or lacking in basic niceties. The base cars had open rear wheels and that’s a good look, but I prefer rear wheel skirts if they were available, and they were especially for the mid-level Grand Marquis and Marquis Brougham, pronounced “Bro-Ham”. I’m kidding about that pronunciation, of course, it’s pronounced: “Broug-Ham”. Kidding again, enough of that. If this would have been a Brougham (“Brome”) it would have a small, rectangular badge below the Marquis script on the right-hand side of the trunk lid. This one has a new vinyl top, but is otherwise original, according to the seller.

This car looks like it’s in nice condition, but I wish that they would have those paper floor mats, or maybe it just needs vacuuming. The steering wheel seems to be the worst part of the interior, with cracks and chunks missing from the faux wood. One unusual thing is that this car doesn’t have any power options such as a power seat, power locks, or power windows.

Those seats, though! They almost make up for a luxury car not having power windows and locks. They look great both in the front and in the spacious rear seating area. The trunk is huge and is filled with lots of stuff. This car looks super solid and the seller has included many underside photos. This is a second-generation Marquis (1969-1978) and the ’73 through ’78 cars were restyled and were about a foot longer than the next-generation cars. With just under 30,000 miles, this car is barely broken in.

The seller lists the engine as a V8 but they don’t say what it is – the standard engine was a 351-cu.in. OHV V8 with 145 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. A 400 and 460 would have been optional and I hope that one of you (Bob?) will let us know which engine this is. For less than $10,000, this seems like a decent deal.

Comments

  1. Avatar Stan

    The well appoined Mercs, were practically Lincolns. 🙌 Love the Grand Marquis model.

    Like 9
  2. Avatar Brad460 Member

    Looks like a 351 to me. Obviously not a 460,.and it had the galvanized colored air cleaner. 400 looked similar but had different air cleaner

    Like 5
    • Avatar Scotty Gilbertson Staff

      Thanks, Brad460!

      Like 2
  3. Avatar Brad460 Member

    Looks like a 351 to me. Obviously not a 460, and while the 400 looked similar I believe only the 351 had the galvanized color air cleaner.

    Like 3
  4. Avatar Bob_in_TN Member

    I’m enjoying the write-ups on the full size American sedans of the era. I think we now more than ever realize how good they really were, how they did their job (smooth, quiet, comfortable, roomy, mile-gobbling travel) very well. This is a nice example and should serve the new owner well. I like the patterned red upholstery. Perhaps the steering wheel illustrates where the former owner placed his/her hands?

    Decades later, I too am still trying to figure out how to say “Brougham”.

    Like 9
    • Avatar Maggy

      Remember Bromo seltzer.Just put a e where the o is and cut out seltzer.I still say bro ham though.

      Like 4
    • Avatar Scotty Gilbertson Staff

      Bob, like most of the Barn Finds family, I like all eras but a lot of us gravitate towards the years when we started (legally) driving, so this is my era. And it’s hard to argue with those wacky seats.

      Like 4
  5. Avatar Raoul-F

    The “H” in the VIN suggests a 351… 0 to 60 : 15.1 sec. Top speed 103 mph.. at 3000 rpm in third or 4300 rpm in second gear… Malaise era….

    Like 4
    • Avatar Scotty Gilbertson Staff

      Thanks, Raoul-F!

      Like 1
    • Avatar Bob C.

      Oh boy, you’re not kidding about Malaise, Raoul. Those are pretty sad figures.

      Like 0
  6. Avatar Jeremy Berenger

    Is there a connection between the Brougham models and a certain Lord Henry Brougham, who was one of the founders of the city of Cannes, France, as we know it?
    https://www.iconicriviera.com/cannes-history-celebrity-founder/
    In Classical English, it is pronounced Broo-ham

    Like 0
  7. HoA Howard A Member

    For the poor schmuck up from the mailroom, but just hadn’t got to Lincoln status,,yet. You know the kind, like the doofus asst. manager with the pocket protector, who thought he was the boss. Regardless, they drove a nice car. At one time, Mercury was more than a rebadged Ford, but by this time, not much separated the 2 except by name. Costing almost $1,000 more( $7104) than a Ford LTD Landau,( $6055) the Mercury was clearly the hosing of the decade, and nobody noticed. Once in a while, I see cars like this being driven, mostly to Walmart, with their elderly owners still clinging to their past, and I’d like to salute everyone, when automobiles were just that, and not to be seen in this crap of today.
    AND THE REAL KICK IN THE BUM? No bids, no viewers, man, I just don’t get it,,,years ago, we would have been HONORED to have Uncle Teds 30K mile Mercury,, yeah, yeah,,,

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Zen

    It’s clean and would be neat to have, but I’m not convinced it’s original miles. Look at the black on the steering wheel and the front doors arm rests. Not worth the money.

    Like 2
  9. Avatar Shingo

    Base Marquis here. Not a Brougham, not a Grand.

    Like 8
    • Avatar Scotty Gilbertson Staff

      Thanks, Shingo! I wasn’t positive if rear fender skirts were available on the base Marquis or not, now we know.

      Like 2
  10. Avatar Rumpledoorskin

    In my opinion, looks like 130k miles. The hole worn in the mat and the worn off woodgrain on the wheel are a tell. It is a good looking car, I would drive it with pride, even if it is short in the options department.

    Like 4
  11. Avatar Tucker Callan

    Right On Shingo!! Good eye!! Straight Marquis. NOT A GRAND MARQUIS,, or even a Brougham!!! Low end, full size Merc.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Jay Martell

      My 73′ had a brougham crest emblem on the side of the vinyl top.I had the “get the hell out of my way” 460 decaled blue air cleaner in my fully optioned matching blue painted wheel covers model.Of course the eye lids would slowly open during my work shift.All around damn good used car even with 150k+ miles on it.Best $300 spent.

      Like 2
  12. Avatar Maggy

    351m400 most likely being a base car.The 351m400 and 400 look identical .The 351m has a shorter stroke and taller pistons.Back in the late 80’s early 90’s a guy who I worked with at the shop owed me a couple hundred bucks and was moving out of state.It was a grey 78 2 dr. Grand Marquis brougham with leather beat to death and all banged up.Still ran ok though needed a ton of work.Drove it right to Victory auto wreckers and got my $ back and a little more.That one had a 351m or a 400 , I don’t remember what the emmision decal said on the drivers side valve cover.Would of made a good debt car.I like my spine though and it already was going thru enough being an auto tech.

    Like 2
    • Avatar maggy

      Derby car.

      Like 3
      • Avatar Big C

        How Dare You…

        Like 1
  13. Avatar Troy

    Nice looking car I would suggest a personal inspection to verify engine and miles as best you can with a 5 digit odometer. I like the way these cars drive until its time to fill the tank

    Like 3
  14. Avatar Billyray

    I don’t know if you are kidding or not about the headlight doors, but because they are powered off a vacuum tank reservoir, I don’t believe it would take much engine vacuum/power to keep the doors closed while driving. With the engine off, one might determine how bad the vacuum leak is by how fast they reopen. 24 hrs. is ok according to Ford. If they don’t close while the engine is running, then that would be a definite malfunction, (assuming the headlights are off.) Maybe more than just a vacuum leak.

    Like 1
  15. Avatar chrlsful

    gimmie the marquis (leave out the ‘grand’) ’83/6 as that’s the fox model.
    “Too Biga Boat” for me~

    Like 0
    • Avatar maggy

      Panther

      Like 2
      • Avatar DVSCAPRI

        83 – 86 were in fact on the “fox” platform, the “Grand” was on the “Panther” platform. The Marquis replaced the Zephyr.

        Like 0
      • Avatar maggy

        dvscapri you’re right. The grand was.My bad. There was the baby Ford LTD too. My grandma had a baby I think 83 LTD on the fox platform. Correct me if I’m wrong.It’s been so long since I’ve seen one.
        .

        Like 2
  16. Avatar Goz

    I had the 88 version with a 302, smaller but just as nice but the electrics were going out so when my father passed i got his 04 Grand Marquis. Much better car all around. The dash vents have lost control and the AC is out but what a great car otherwise.4.6 still gets 22 mpg and might be the most dependable car i’ve ever owned. Plus i can get a whole bass guitar rig in that gigantic trunk.

    Like 1
  17. Avatar Karl

    F.Y.I. “Country Classics” was sold several months ago, Russ is retired.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Bob_in_TN Member

      Hadn’t heard that. That may explain their presence on ebay, I don’t remember them advertising there much before (if any). I wonder if their business model
      — which I would describe as wheeling and dealing regular old cars, as opposed to high-end (read: expensive) classics or muscle cars — will undergo any changes.

      Like 1
      • Avatar Karl

        Went by there Easter Sunday, there are more new high-end d stuff than there used to be.

        Like 0
  18. Avatar Karl

    Went by there Easter Sunday, there are more new high-end d stuff than there used to be.

    Like 0
  19. Avatar C Force

    A land yacht like this you might get double digit mpg,even w/o a vacuum leak.expect to deal with several feet of vacuum hose.would be best to re-plumb it all with new hose.very clean ride.

    Like 0
  20. Avatar William Hartig Member

    the 5th VIN digit is H (8Z62H563110) = 2V 351 Base Marquis. The LD trim code is Base (not Grand)

    Like 0
  21. Avatar DVSCAPRI

    Maggie- I owned an 85 LTD LX – basically the civilian version of the cop LTD… 5.0, AOD, buckets, console, etc… it was basically a “more-door” Mustang. The only way to get the 5.0 in the LTD, plus you got all of the heavy duty “police” packages (brakes, oil & trans coolers, suspension). Mine was “slightly” modified – Mustang “shorty” headers, true dual exhaust & 3:73 rear end when I bought it. I ended up converting it to 5 speed with a T5Z.

    Like 1

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