One of the more interesting cars to find for sale is an older model that hasn’t been exactly pampered but still remains in excellent condition. This is a situation that seems to materialize on the West Coast quite often, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. The climate lends itself to older cars and trucks being left in continuous use, such as this clean and low mileage 1986 Mercury Grand Marquis, listed here on craigslist near Seattle for $6,000. The seller notes it has just 40,200 original miles, and while little other information is provided, the condition does appear to be quite tidy.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Curvette for the tip. The Grand Marquis was representative of an era where America’s largest and most luxurious cars were downsized in most every way possible. Equipment lists were trimmed, engine sizes were decreased, the overall length was trimmed – and many of them also went to front-wheel drive setups. The Grand Marquis (and its corporate twin, the Ford Crown Victoria) were among the few hold-outs, pushing forward with V8 power and rear-wheel drive all the way through to their eventual retirement. The Grand Marquis shown here has some flat spots on the paint but overall presents well cosmetically.
The interiors were still fairly loaded with standard equipment, from deeply stuffed seats to faux woodgrain trim that did a commendable job of looking fancy. The interior design underwent a few updates over the years, with the most significant one for 1986 being the retirement of the 8-track stereo in favor of a single DIN head unit. Loads of standard power features and plush carpeting certainly made the Grand Marquis feel luxurious, even if the Lincoln Town Car was still top banana at the time. The seller’s car looks to have been cared for based on the condition of the interior surfaces, and likely never saw much backseat use.
In the power barn, fuel injection became standard with the 1986 model year. Power was rated at 150 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. of torque, channeled through a Ford AOD four-speed automatic. The engine and transmission combination is generally quite robust, and likely has lots of life in it in a low-mileage specimen like this one. In fact, the seller noting that the engine oil has been changed and that it’s effectively ready to go reminds us just how simple and durable these cars are, so if you’re looking for a classic daily driver that will provide turnkey dependability, look no further.
Hmmm
I’m surprised to learn you could still get an 8 track on these as late as 1985.
I had a new company truck (F 150 Heritage) back in 2004 that had a factory installed cassette player.
Unless you’re a car guy in the auction TV show tradition, I don’t see how a well preserved nearly 40 year old car, that statistically no one preserved, could be boring.
Blue tufted cloth interior…. take that, modern luxury vehicle with featureless black leather upholstery….
YUP, you don’t burn your backside in the summer and you don’t crack the cover in the winter. Nothing like cloth interiors
A Town Car from that year would be a lot nicer, but for the price you can’t beat this. If it was closer I’d be checking it out.
This car has many miles of dependable transportation left in it- for only $6,000. A better value than most $6,000 vehicles on a used car lot!
A good transportation car for $6K!! This was the car of choice on the east coast in the 80’s and 90’s!! My in-laws were in New Jersey and had two and would trade one in every 4-5 years. They were great cruisers and were great taxis when we would fly in with the kids at Christmas every year!!
My wife’s aunt gifted her 85 Grand Marquis that still had the throttle body fuel injection, I think I remember, so 86 may have been the first year for this type. There’s not much difference between this and the 86 or 87 Town cars that we later owned. Same 5-liter engines with AOD trans. Decent milage cruising the freeways with the cruise control.
Yeah, ’86 was the first year for multiport EFI in the Ford line. Make sure the infamous AOD TV cable bushing is in good shape and you’ll drive this thing forever.
This model is one of the best all time dependable cars. Todd you are correct about the bushing, really the Achillis heel. I bought a 1988 LTD with 9,400 miles on it in 2007. It even had the original tires on it still. The bushing failed in the first 25 miles I drove it and cooked the trans. I paid 1,300 for it for essentially a new car. So was not to upset. 400 trans rebuild, 400 new tires that when it hit the highway at 70 became broken belt blues, did not think I would get home they were that bad. 5 dollar cable bushing and have been driving it ever since.
Now with 140K it still like a new car. I will never get rid of it. Only thing that has been replaced in that time, brakes, tires, oil in engine, trans rear end. But the door window motors have all been replaced, the drivers 3 times. They are crap to light duty.