The first owner kept this California-native 1969 Marquis for 40 years. Apart from a shredded vinyl roof, I think the outside looks a lot like it did back in 1969. It’s now found in Covina, California and is for sale here on eBay with an opening bid of $1,900 and no reserve. It’s hard for me to believe that it was common to have an engine this large fed by only a two-barrel carburetor! I guess it was an effort to get torque and still keep mileage “reasonable”? The air conditioning, power steering and brakes and even the cruise control are all present and functional. Chrome is said to be good and straight. The odometer shows just under 100,000 miles but the seller cannot prove that. I think this seems like a pretty good buy, although I have no idea what it would cost to replace the vinyl top. Have any of you done that? And does this Marquis fit your wants?
seller has 298 listings on ebay, 2 are cars that are being sold for a friend. needs a engine photo or two. i would remove the vinyl top, fix the rust, then paint the area where the top was. then drive the car. needs a PI to make sure miles, hitch is installed correctly, and no rust in trunk from c/b hole leaks. interesting find. this car would tow your TR7/8 racecar around.
@Jim S — it would, no argument. But that’s what the pickup truck is for…hauling around LBC’s that don’t run! :-)
Dump the intake and carb, put on a big 4bbl, then throw some headers and a full 3″ exhaust on it, and romp around town…
selling for a friend, BUYER BEWARE!
During the vinyl roof craze, used car dealers were having these put on their cars. So it might not be very expensive to replace. I would clean up the roof and paint it to protect it and replace the vinyl roof. The 429 2v would not be a high performance engine, but you could tow the White House with it.
I don’t think a vinyl roof is any more expensive to replace than a convertible top. That said with a little investment it would make a nice road car but there just not that many land yacht buyers anymore with gas prices where they are at today plus try to park one at wallie world you will be walking from the furthest part of the lot.
first, I noticed the wording, it sounds strangely like what a dealer would write, but he is a private seller . we do not know what shape the roof is in.. no photos ( am not a body man, cost wise what would it cost to repair/ replace?) the 429 certainly gave it some grunt, and the 2v was an attempt to give it decent gas mileage ( before we were concerned about it ) I agree with others here would modify the engine to give it better performance.. this is not a performance car, but would want a bit of oomph for on ramps and for passing on two lanes duals with glass packs would give it a decent rumble and you’re all set for a long trip
$350 would replace the vinyl top, then detail the hell out of it and drive it. No $ upside so ya better want to drive it…
Had a 71 Marquis, 4 door, 2 barrel 429.
Big as an aircraft carrier.
Drove from So. Ill. to So. Cal. and averaged
19.7mpg for the whole trip.
Ford started using two barrel carbs mostly for emission control. They found they were better able to control things with two barrel carbs mostly in the early 70’s. California has tougher standards than the rest of the US starting in 68 so that’s possibly why this car came with the two barrel when other 69s would have a had a 4 barrel. Our 72 LTD had a 400 two barrel.
Seems there were both 2 and 4 barrel with 3 speed autos.
The 2 barrel had 320 HP and 460 ft-lb.
The 4 barrel had 360 HP and 480 ft-lb.
I never appreciated vinyl roofs much and when I see a car I would like that has one I am always thinking of a good excuse to get it removed. It appears this car comes with a good reason. As commented on before no engine bay pictures even though the ad states the “engine compartment is impressive”. If I were close I would give it a look..