We all reach a point in life where we feel we deserve to be spoiled. This is especially true when we decide to introduce a classic car into our lives. For some, it is a sports car like a Corvette, while for others, it might be a muscle car like a Charger or a ‘Cuda. This 1973 Mercury Marquis Brougham could be just the ticket for those who feel they need to be pampered. Not only is it in exceptional condition for its age, but the original owner loaded it with almost every optional extra that Mercury offered for that model year. The owner has decided that it needs a new home, so he has listed it for sale here on eBay. It is located in San Diego, California, and while strong bidding has pushed the price to $9,500, it remains short of the reserve. If you feel that it is an automotive “must-have,” he offers a BIN option of $12,999.
This Mercury is a giant of a car that the original owner ordered in Code 6D Yellow. He chose to contrast this with a Dark Green vinyl top that adds a touch of class to the exterior. Looking beyond the color combination to this vehicle’s overall condition, there isn’t much to fault. The paint shines beautifully, while the vinyl is in as-new condition. There are no visible exterior flaws beyond some minor paint chips, and even the damage-prone painted nose section looks clean. The fender skirts accentuate the car’s long and low appearance, and the concealed headlamps further emphasize the Mercury’s luxury leanings. It appears that this classic has spent its life in California, meaning that its rust-free status comes as no great surprise. The trim and chrome shine as winningly as the paint, and the tinted glass appears to be perfect.
Lifting the hood reveals a 460-4V V8, a 3-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and power front disc brakes. That giant of an engine should be producing 202hp, making the Marquis capable of covering the ¼ mile in 18.1 seconds. The owner’s decision to opt for the 460 in preference to the entry-level 429-4V interests me. The upgrade added $75.72 to this Mercury’s sticker price, but it didn’t offer much in return. Where the 460 placed 202hp and 330 ft/lbs of torque under the right foot, the “baby” motor still provided 198hp and 320 ft/lbs of torque. Personally, I would’ve chosen to keep the extra cash in my pocket, but I guess that the upgrade would’ve provided bragging rights when the original owner was discussing his new car with anyone. The listing indicates an odometer reading of 38,700 miles, but the owner doesn’t state whether he holds evidence to verify its originality. He says that the Marquis runs and drives perfectly. The motor starts on the first turn of the key, there is no smoke, no odd noises, and everything works as it should. It seems that this classic is ready to embark on a cross-country journey the moment the buyer hands the cash to the owner.
It is when we turn our attention to this Mercury’s interior that the car truly shines. The seats and door trims are upholstered in white, with the spotless headliner wearing the same color. The carpet and dash wear a shade of green that matches the vinyl top, while there are lashings of faux-timber wherever you look. There appears to be nothing inside this Mercury that I can fault. The white upholstery has avoided the dirty marks and yellowing that can be a hallmark of age. The dash and pad look perfect, while there’s no appreciable wear on the carpet. However, this interior is about more than mere good looks. If you have reached the point where luxury touches will tip the scales for you, this Marquis more than delivers. The buyer will find themselves with air conditioning, power windows, power locks, a six-way power driver’s seat, a reclining passenger seat, cruise control, a rear defroster, a tilt wheel, remote driver’s mirror, and an AM/FM radio/tape player. These items work as they should, and the owner has mounted a CD player in the enormous trunk to add a modern touch for those who want something extra.
While I find the lure of a high-performance car hard to resist, there are days when I would love nothing better than to slip behind the wheel of a vehicle that offers a quiet and relaxed motoring experience with lashings of luxury equipment at my fingertip. That is what this 1973 Mercury Marquis Brougham seems to offer. The original owner didn’t show much restraint when he ordered the car because the optional extras added an astonishing 34% to the car’s original sticker price. Do you feel that you’ve reached that point where comfort and luxury are your primary considerations in a classic car? If so, maybe this Mercury has been waiting for you.
Very nice. If you want a big 70’s cruiser, this is hard to beat. Yellow/green/white combination is unusual, but actually looks fine from a period-correct perspective. Look at the window sticker— back when one could choose from dozens of stand-alone options. I can almost feel the numb steering, but that was normal for its day. This would be fun for the right person.
The window sticker says it has an electric rear window defroster. The interior picture showing the air-conditioning, the spot for the rear window defroster is blank(right side of he a/c control panel. There’s no ob/off toggle switch. Also why doesn’t the rear window have a grid? Was the rear window replaced? http://oldcarbrochures.org/United%20States/Mercury/1973%20Mercury/1973%20Mercury%20Full%20Line%20Brochure/1973_Mercury-08.jpg
Wonder what kind of mileage it gets?
Does it require premium gas?
I was curious as well. According to automobile-catalog.com :
city – 7.1 to 8.5 mpg
highway – 11.2 to 13.4 mpg
combined – 10.6 mpg
fuel capacity – 21.9 US gallons
curb weight – 4,735 lbs.
1/4 mile – 18.4 seconds @ 78 mph
0 to 60 mph – 11.5 seconds
A solid guess is premium was required.
I had a 73 wagon, Don’t know where the info you got came from but I got 14 around town and with the cruise on she pulled 19 on the Highway at 65/70 MPH. Reg. Unleaded.
Regular works, 73 was a low compression motor
The people that bought these cars didn’t worry about gas mileage
4 gallons to the mile if your lucky.
Says right on the air-cleaner “regular fuel”
I have a 75 continental town car built on the same platform with the same engine and trans combo. I get 11 to 14 around town and 16 to 18 out on the open road.
I had a 1973 Meteor Montcalm with a 400 cid … not much for fancy options but it was a tank that just floated down the road.
Beautiful highway cruiser. Great styling…Mercury said to MOPAR “I see your fuselage style, and raise you”
Chrysler went with fuselage.Ford countered with luxobarge.
Neither was wrong.
I love the land yacht era cars…especially towards the end.
As my parallel parking skills decline and my reliance on back-up cameras increases, it makes me wonder how people once parked these cars on crowded city streets.
Or in old-timey garages
You realize you are getting old when you remember your Father bought one of these. My Dad bought a 1969 Marquis Brougham, it was the 1st year of the Marquis, and the best looking in my opinion. It had the sequential rear taillights that at 6 years old, I thought was cool. I bought a ’76 2-door for a winter beater. Yes, it was an Uncle Buck clone, you didn’t drive these cars, you guided them. It was like driving a 32 foot boat, saying the steering was vague is an understatement. 8-10 mpg was the standard but they rode nice. With roads and parking getting smaller, kids today couldn’t drive them, I miss big cars.
I’m looking for one with the DeSade package.
They are all DeSade models, that throbbing pain in your left rear pocket, is because gas is $3.50 a gallon.
My parents had one when I was in high school! Could haul a lot of friends! We called it the blue whale it was so big!
I owned this same car in 1975. Green and with the 429. Was a dream to drive as I made several trips to Dallas from far West Texas. Flat open spaces with virtually no hills. Would set the cruise on 80, tilt back the seat and crank up the radio. That huge trunk swallowed up my Honda CT70 I took with me. Was a great car, but the oil embargo and rising gas prices were just too much to bear. Traded it in on a new 1976 Camaro with a 350/4BBL. The Camaro actually got better gas mileage while being more fun to drive. I do miss the Merc though, guess I’ve gotten older.
I currently have a 1978 Grand Marquis coupe in Antique Cream with matching landau top. The interior is gold velour with full power. I bought the car 2 years ago with 909 documented miles. It currently has 1700 miles and gets thumbs up every time I take it out. I’ve never checked the mileage, but it’s not great.
I’m not a fan of the color combo, frankly I thing the green top, dashboard & carpet I find to be off with the otherwise white interior & the yellow body. But I would have no problem being the captain of this barge in spite of that. What a cool car!
I forgot to add in my previous comment looks like it’s missing the toggle switch for the remote control right side mirror. According to sales literature it should be right next to the clock
It’s Sold
Response to angliagt: In 1967 the treasurer of Cessna Marketing Division bought a big Buick Riveria and we were gathered around touching and smelling. I asked what the mileage was and he said “if you have to ask, you can’t afford the car”. Love those big motors.
My 1974 460 4v (pre catalyst) got about 8mpg around town, it was painful to drive, gas cost wise. Gas in Bay Area California is about $4.25-$4.50 a gallon now, so driving 2 miles (each way) just to go get gas would cost about $2.
Someone hit the B.I.N. button.
Car does not have power door locks, as mentioned in the write up. Oddly, it does not have a heated rear window, cornering lights, or intermittent wipers, all of which are listed on the window sticker. Great cars. I miss my ’76 Grand Marquis 4 door pillared hard top.