It’s amazing that time capsule cars still exist in any form, but especially when those delivery-only miles are found on a completely ordinary car. Sure, low miles on a supercar or a luxury vehicle left at a second home aren’t entirely surprising, but this 1982 Mercury Grand Marquis was just some older lady’s daily driver. It has seen barely any use since new, with just 3,240 miles on the clock and still presenting like a brand new car, inside and out. The seller has listed it here on eBay with a reserve, and to date, it has just one bid to $5,000. What is a time-warp survivor like this worth?
The fifth-generation Grand Marquis came about at a time when many manufacturers were downsizing their standard-bearers at the upper end of the lineup. From vinyl roofs to wire hubcaps, these cars were meant to evoke luxury even though they were never a threat to the Germans or the stately sedans from Crewe. In many ways, as large sedans began to shrink and fuel efficiency took priority, luxury meant something different: it was buying a car with rear-wheel drive and V8 power, standard on the Grand Marquis, even as its competitors were dropping both features.
The interior of these Grand Marquis featured a front bench with the ability to hold three passengers, giving it a maximum occupancy of six. It’s interesting to think about the perception of a near-luxury car and the ability to host three riders up front. After all, most modern-day luxury vehicles prioritize from bucket seats and perhaps even seating for just two rear passengers to give the rear cabin area the same treatment as up front. However, more was always better when the Grand Marquis was new, and it’s not surprising that pushing extra occupancy via the bench seat up front won over plenty of dedicated Lincoln/Mercury drivers.
The 5.0L V8 is an easy engine to live with, and maintenance costs are dirt cheap. It only made around 130 horsepower, so it wasn’t a powerhouse, but it will get you where you need to go. The seller notes a variety of repairs to prepare this Grand Marquis for sale, and it all seems pretty basic: fluid changes, brake system repairs, new wheel cylinders, and more. The white-wall tires are also new. Though it’s hard to get a true sense of how well preserved this Grand Marquis is, it seems like it’s worth more than the current bid price. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Curvette for the tip.
Wow, hasn’t anyone bought this low-mile Merc yet?!
https://barnfinds.com/2800-original-mile-cream-puff-1982-mercury-grand-marquis/
https://barnfinds.com/2940-miles-1982-mercury-grand-marquis/
Thanks for the links. He had it listed on eBay last week with a $19,500 BIN. A recurring theme in the comments the two previous times it was featured was the price was too high and the mileage claim was dubious. A picture of a 5 digit speedometer no longer works as “proof”, it never should have unless there is some form of documentation to back it up. With the market for cars like tightening sellers will need to become more realistic with their pricing.
If the seller really believed it only had the mileage he’s claiming, why would he drive it nearly 500 miles, the stated low mileage is the cars inky potential hook to get a buyer to part with nearly $20,000.
Steve R
Thanks Scotty G. For the extra links and the perfect example of why it hasn’t sold and bidding strands at about $5k its a nice car but I think given the age and 5 digit odometer $5k is its value good luck to the seller you might hit that big payday your looking for
There is a 1981 Chevy Caprice over on Bring a Trailer right now that has just under 2,000 miles on it, so that would give you a pretty good idea of what this may be worth. Ebay is probably not the correct forum to get top dollar for it.
Just a look at the engine bay says I has more milage than indicated.
THIS Grand Marquis looks like it’s been well taken of. The velour seats look almost new. Having owned multiple Crown Vics, Grand Marquis, and Town Cars since 83, even if the odometer has rolled over, with routine maintenance, they will easily go over 300,000. It’s another I want it BUT car. IMO, a steal at the listed price. Maybe a *Black Friday * Bon Marche.
“Bon marché” is a French term that translates to “cheap” or “inexpensive,” often implying a good deal. It can refer to items that are low in price, but the quality may vary.
I always believed Bon Marche means Good Buy.
The car ranks at a zero on the collectability scale. If, If he gets an offer for 8k he should run that money to the bank. At 19k he will own it until his estate sale.
I’m in NYC this G. Marquis been listed on Craigslist forever at $ 24,000 last time I saw. perhaps he lowered it now. I like & into it, but nowhere near what he’s looking to fish for. besides absolutely no collector value to general vintage car enthusiast sadly.
some old grey hairs last ride. IMO not worth what they are asking. he will be wearing this as a hat
Ended 105 PM $7,100 didn’t sell
This color was too common at the time. I didn’t care for it. However, this Mercury is in great condition. It has much more life in it. $7,000 is a great bid for it. It should have changed hands at that amount!
I agree that the engine-bay says a LOT more than just over 3,000 miles! My 1988 Grand Marquis has 406,000 miles, and its velour seats look just as nice as this: these wear like iron! The 1982 came before the larger tyres, fuel injection, gas shocks, and other things which tended to make these economical and sublimely comfortable daily drivers: not that many of the 1979-1982 first generation of these survive — and that tells you something about how they were on reliability over time. By 1986, you were getting to the ones that seemed to go on for EVER without repairs, just attentive maintenance. This car is about worthless to a collector, and not likely to start increasing in value any time soon. You buy one of these as a highly reliable daily driver, not as a “garage-queen” or to use sparingly in local municipal parades. These cars do not “turn heads”, because so many of them are still on the roads. This is your basic American rear-wheel-drive V-8 four door sedan, with tasteful luxury pretentions: about the same as a Ford Crown Victoria, only much nicer, and smoother. This is the car you want for every day, when comfort matters to you. It isn’t ideal for everyone; for one thing, it is a bit under-powered for its size and weight, so it won’t “haul-a**” going uphill. It cruises nicely, though. The radio, in a word, sucks: no other way to put it. It is reasonable for casual use; however, if you want to tune-in a station and carry it for 300 miles, this is not your radio. And F.M. selectivity is totally inadequate for to-day’s crowded F.M. band: that stronger adjacent channel will “bleed through” constantly. Again, if you are after a strong local station, then this radio is fine. But I come from a time when car radios were designed to work on the road for miles upon miles and out-perform most any other radio for long-distance reception — and this one ain’t it. Electronic power-windows and door-locks in these are a problem: they work great for about the first 200,000 miles — but then once you have to use that Chinese replacement, you’re on your own with that! Door-locks freeze solid in below-zero weather. You take it out of the garage, you drive to Wal☆Mart to shop for about an hour, you return to your car in the parking-lot… and ALL THE LOCKS ARE FROZEN! water pumps in these tend to fail (usually by springing a leak). When it is 100 degrees, the air-conditioner will make the interior feel like a walk-in freezer. But when it is 28° below zero outside, GOOD LUCK WITH GETTING ENOUGH HEAT! If you are tall, look elsewhere: simply folding yourself into a pretzel to squeeze-in under the top frame of the door is a PROCESS!!! The glove compartment is too small. BUT… if you can live with the above foibles, and you want a car that will last you over hundreds of thousands of miIes on regular maintenance, with almost never needing repairs, then one of these might just be what you are looking for. If you are over the age of eighty, and more than a bit arthritic, and you want to drive 870 miles straight and arrive as fresh and comfortable as you were when you left, then I cannot praise this car too highly. These cars are to be DRIVEN, not “shown”; but GOOD LUCK in ever wearing one out!
if high bid was $7100.00 seller should have taken it. winter coming now you got to store it. that is a fair offer for the car. yeah, low miles but not a collector car just a real clean low mile used car