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45,000 Miles: 1974 Mercury Marquis Brougham

We all know that sales ads can be incredibly frustrating at times, like most of the time. Sometimes a person has to dig in and hope for the best – this is one of those times. This is a great looking 1974 Mercury Marquis Brougham two-door hardtop and it’s in a fantastic shade of 1970s green. It’s listed on Craigslist somewhere in the US, I think.. Those color-keyed full wheel covers are the clincher for me. Each door probably weighs 2.4 times what I weigh, but a two-door hardtop Marquis? Yes, yes, yes. Please let this be a real ad. Oh, the price? No clue, they say to make an offer, that’s even scarier. Thanks to Rich G. for sending in this tip!

Yes, there are only three photos, they’re all small, and 1/3 of them show the speedometer/odometer which shows 0 mph and 45,091.5 miles. It looks great so far, no? But, the location is a bit worrisome. It’s listed on the Palm Springs Craigslist but the map shows it in the Tuscaloosa, Alabama area. In fact, the area code on the phone number in the ad is in fact from Alabama so that’s a big sigh of relief, as is having a phone number in the ad. Maybe the owner is a snowbird? Maybe they’re marketing it on the Palm Springs CL thinking that it’s a no-brainer for a Rat-Pack-wanna-be-hipster living in that area? That’s what I’m hoping for, not anything nefarious or sneaky. It looks like a Palm Springs car, doesn’t it?

The opening photo is it for exterior photos and you can see those pesky, somewhat-antiquated vacuum-operated headlight doors are open. This car hasn’t slept in who knows how long, let’s get those eyelids shut! Most auto makers had done away with hidden headlights by this time and those who did have them usually used electric motors, but the Merc Marquis still had vacuum-operated doors. It shouldn’t be too hard to track it down, you’ll want to change out all of the rubber hoses anyway and that includes vacuum lines. The opening photo shows a spectacular green paint color – what I believe is Bright Green Gold Metallic? Or is it Medium Ivy Bronze Metallic? In any case, it’s not a booooring shade of white, gray, silver, or black like it would be on a 2018 Mercury Marquis Brougham two-door hardtop, if there was such a thing. The lone interior photo above shows what looks like a car with 4,500 miles on it, not 45,000 miles. Nice, but I want to see more, much more! Three photos?!

Here’s the infamous speedometer/odometer photo. You know that the sweeping red speed indicator has been past that 110 mark, it just had to have been. Here’s the seller’s entire listing: “1974 Mercury Brougham! Near perfect find!, 45,000 original miles, like new!” ‘Nuff said, I guess. No, no it isn’t we all want more! More info, more photos – more, more, more. Of course you know that there aren’t any engine photos but this monster two-door luxury car would have had a monster 460 cubic-inch V8 since it was the standard engine on the Brougham. Unfortunately, by 1974 it was down to 195 hp and 335 lb-ft of torque. For a 4,800-pound car that isn’t a lot of power but at least you’ll get 10 mpg while cutting diamonds in the back seat. This is one smooth ride. NADA is at $4,750 for an average retail value, what’s your price on this great looking Marquis?

Comments

  1. Avatar Rich G

    So…the ad has changed radically since I sent it. Weird. Originally it was in the Yucaipa general area, 45 minutes or so away, and there was a much better description. Obviously the seller thinks mystery is a better sales tool. Huh. Now I have to think it’s suspect. .

    Like 4
  2. Avatar hatofpork

    Maybe Barnaby Jones moves around a lot…

    Like 4
    • Avatar Dovi65

      LOL .. Barnaby was a Ford LTD 4DHT guy. Back in the 70s Ford had the TV market pretty much to themselves.
      This fine Merc is a real class act .. hidden headlights, color-keyed hubcaps

      Like 0
      • Avatar Rick A.. Loera Member

        Barnaby Jones drove only 2 door hardtops. Always brown.

        Like 0
  3. Avatar Fred W

    Don’t get your hopes up guys… a dealer has it listed on Autotrader for $15K. Apparently it is actually in Michigan, or at least the dealer is.

    https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars/1974/mercury/marquis/100910780

    Like 1
  4. Avatar Mr. TKD

    “…a 2018 Mercury Marquis Brougham 2-door hardtop…”

    I wish.

    Like 2
  5. Avatar Steve

    Scam scam scam

    Like 2
  6. Avatar chrlsful

    460’na C6 (I guess).
    Sounds like a truck.

    Like 0
  7. Avatar Bob C.

    195 horsepower seems way underrated for the 460, even during the smog era. I think 205 to 220 net sounds more realistic.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Fred W

      According to “the ‘net”, should have 220HP.

      Like 0
  8. Avatar Miguel

    Don’t people realize that if you show a car that has covered headlights with the covers up, it shows the car might have problems?

    If the car was so well cared for and only 45K, why are the covers up?

    Like 1
    • Avatar Jett

      The car looks very well cared for, but c’mon…it’s nearly 45 years old. I’d forgive that little foible and deal with it accordingly.

      Like 0
      • Avatar Miguel

        Jett, my point is that if the seller is going to ask all the money for the car, he should at least fix an obvious problem.

        When I see the headlight covers up, I think the car hasn’t been run in a while. That is a problem.

        I also think that if it need the vacuum hoses replaced it probably needs all other rubber hoses and belts replaced and maybe suspension parts.

        It doesn’t put me in the mind set to pay top dollar for the car which defeats his purpose.

        Maybe the valve under the hood is in the wrong position. At least it should be looked at.

        Do you understand what I am saying?

        Like 0
    • Avatar Kyle S Bork

      Because they were vacuum operated. They used vacuum to close the doors and hold them closed and a spring to open them. No vacuum and a leaking vacuum motor and this is what you got.

      Like 0
  9. Avatar Mvickery

    If I remember correctly, the dealership I used to work at fixed a ton of the non-closing headlights by replacing the check valve.most of them would close once the engine started and slowly open when the engine was turned off.

    Like 1
  10. Avatar Pete Kaczmarski

    If the car was so well cared for and only 45K, why are the covers up?

    The Ford/Lincoln/Mercury cars of this era all have problems because the head light doors are vacuum operated. When there is a leak they will stay open so you can still use the head lights. I strongly suspect the lower priced Craigslist ad is a SCAM.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Miguel

      Pete, I know that. I have had many of these cars.

      My point is that if you are presenting the car as a well cared for example and asking big money for it, why take a picture that shows an obvious defect?

      Vacuum hose is fairly cheap and would correct that problem.

      Like 0
    • Avatar Dovi65

      Those light covers are vacuum operated via rubber tubing, & plastic connections. Rubber & plastic degrade over time, and even a small leak in one of the tubes will cause those doors to not function properly, thus the default position is open [the better option,if you ask me!]
      If this lovely Merc is as beautiful in person as it presents in photos, the headlight door function shouldn’t even be a blip on the radar.

      Like 0
      • Avatar Miguel

        As I told the other poster, I know how they operate.

        My point was that if the seller is asking all the money for this car, I would expect one of the most important design cues to be operating like it should.

        When I sell a car, I don’t want to leave obvious problems visible to get the buyer to think what else could be wrong, especially if I am asking a lot of money for what I am selling.

        Like 0
  11. Avatar CanuckCarGuy

    I learned to drive in my dad’s ’73, but his was a sedan with the 429. To this day, one of the best cars I’ve ever driven. The tranny eventually went and he bought a ’77, but it just didn’t live up to the ’73.

    Like 0
  12. Avatar Rich G

    Uh, Miguel, you know that sounds like you’d hide the real problems, right? The only time I’d ever chastise a “flipper “ is if they knew there was a problem and tried to hide it. Huh, good to know.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Miguel

      Fixing a problem is not hiding a problem.

      They are two very different things.

      Like 1
  13. Avatar 64 Bonneville

    Mercury wasn’t built after 2011. We have been through about 1/2 dozen Marquis Broughams since 1972. Really, really like them for the ride comfort (O.F. olde phart talk), but fuel mileage leaves something to be desired. Our 2011 only gets 14 in town, but 22 on the highway.
    The classic car dealer in Michigan, appears, to me, to repost ads with really stout prices. Could they be a “consignment” seller? Not much of anything they listed was worth commenting on, even among car guys.

    Like 0
  14. Avatar treg forsyth

    Uncle Buck restored his car!

    Like 0
  15. Avatar Bill

    I currently have a ’74 Marquis Brougham…460….2 dr Hardtop…I’ve had it for 20+ yrs…..quite the cruiser….8 track still works……headlight doors have never closed….???…..bought in Washington state….now in Az.,,,,,,I get 20 mpg……8 in town..12 on the hi-way….= 20mpg…….lol…..131,520 original miles…..Billsaidit…..

    Like 0

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