Full size still ruled at the conclusion of the ’60s, or so Mercury thought, as they pursued the end of days for full-size performance with their Marauder, and more intensely, with the Marauder X-100. And today, for your review, we have one of each, a ’70 standard Marauder and a rare ’69 X-100. Buy the ’70, and the ’69 gets thrown in for good measure – such a deal! Mr. Jeff found the listing for this dynamic duo, they’re located in Spokane, Washington and available, here on craigslist for $15,000.
Mercury’s Marauder was a come-and-go model, it would show up for a few years, disappear, and then reappear, all over a span of three generations. Today’s pair represents gen-two, offered in ’69 and ’70 and possessing essentially identical lines. Both of our cars feature extended C-pillars that create a tunneled rear window and the X-100 variant wore a very distinctive flat black deck lid, C-pillar inners, and Dutchman panel. A two-door hardtop was the only way that this generation of the Maruader rolled and production stats were:
- 1969: Marauder=9,031/Maruader X-100=5,635
- 1970: Marauder=3,397/Marauder X-100=2,646
The big difference between the two models is under the hood. Where the X-100 was equipped with a 360 gross HP 429 CI V8 (no images provided) the standard Marauder made do with less, in this case, a 390 CI V8 of either 265 or 280 gross HP (though the big 429 was available as an option). The seller states that the ’70 Marauder runs and drives but needs to have its brakes bled. As for the 69 X-100, it’s missing its carburetor but the engine does turn over. Both cars feature automatic transmissions – standard equipment on the X-100 though a three-speed manual gearbox was still available on the standard Marauder with the base 390 CI engine.
The ’70 Marauder shows as OK with its maroon finish having experienced serious fade and lacking depth. Nothing is mentioned about rust but I’d recommend a top and bottom side inspection. The seller adds, “Have all the parts minus the paint to make it 100%“. I must suggest, that both of these cars are gonna need a lot of paint, they stretch out to 219 inches in overall length! The wheels affixed to the ’70 Marauder are a nice addition- they look like American Racing Vectors. Not much is said about the X-100 and it looks like it’s in about the same condition with lots of faded paint – most notably affecting that distinctive flat black rear deck treatment. It’s also wearing its original Magnum 500-style road wheels and all of the trim rings look like they’re still in place.
Both cars are decked out with optional bucket seat/center console interiors and the vinyl upholstery looks pretty fair – if dusty and dirty. The driver’s seat bottom of the X-100 may have a problem or two, however. Note the center console shift selector, it’s an inverted U or a basket handle, whichever you prefer, such as found in Chevrolets, Fords, and Buicks of the era.
These are definitely collectible cars – the X-100 in particular. In this case, it doesn’t appear that one would be needed as a parts car to revive the other; they both have rejuvenation possibilities in their own right. And there’s always the thought of keeping the one that you really want and flipping the other. Two for $15,000? Sounds reasonable is my thought, what’s yours?
I’ve grown to appreciate the full-size sport models of their day, and the Marauder is a great example. Stylish without being gaudy, plenty of power, loads of presence. The X-100 with its blackout paint treatment is particularly attractive and appealing. I hope these get restored.
Thanks Jim.
I agree Bob. I certainly hope that someone who appreciates what they are restores them back to their ‘Agressive Elegance’. Get behind the wheel and own the road. Don’t see them much anymore, be a shame to see them go to waste.
Nice pair. Drive the 70 as you restore the 69. That 390 will still have some giddy-up if running well.
Power windows not crankers and a/c would be imperative for me on any car
Very cool, it would be very tempting to take “leeser of the two” and create a mild custom…like the 2 in 1 AMT Model Kits. Maybe t-tops or removable roof section?
Must be a 390 2v.All you have to do is swap to a 4bbl to get the 315 or 320hp out of it.$15k seems to be a great price for 2.To rebuild the 429 is going to be a bit $pricey$.One of the most expensive Ford engine overhauls from that era.
What makes the 429 so expensive to rebuild?
With a engine this old you will likely have to bore the block and have machine work done.429/460 parts cost more than FE parts.
Gotta swap more than just carburetors to get that power increase
You’re right,i should elaborate.assuming it’s a 280hp 2bbl engine adding a 4bbl intake and carb,long tube headers and a robust electronic ignition.using a Holley 600cfm vacuum secondary,increase the main jets a few sizes and use a lightweight secondary diaphragm spring and advance the timing a few degrees.There were what amounts to subtle differences between the 390 2v and 4v,a half a point in comp ratio(9:6.1 for 2v and 10:1 for 4v)and maybe the cam.They were all 4.050×3.78 bore and stroke intake/exhaust 2.02/1.55 not what i would call night and day difference
Not really enuff seller provided pics or info to make a sound informed decision. Appears that both have set for a while & I’d be concerned about rust being present in both coming from Washington as author points out. Nice write up Jim.
Rust really shouldn’t be a major or even minor issue on these cars. Even on the West Side of Wahington it generally not a major issue unless you leave something outside to rot. Since these cars are from Spokane on the dry side. Unless these cars are IMPORTS from the NE USA, they shouldn’t have any major issues.
These were BIG cars but pretty awesome. My Dad was always a Mercury Man but I dont remember seeing one of these until sometime in the 80’s. Great that he still had the Kelsey Hays Mag Star wheels as those are difficult to find. They are similar to a 67 Shelby wheel but had smaller brake vents and used a trim ring instead of a chrome rim and a different center cap. Hope someone buys these 2 Mercs and gets them back on the road. Not many left.
Back down south whiskey haulers what the good for. Good ol boys luv em!!
Bought one of these in Tucson, AZ, never saw another one for 25 years. It was a great highway car, drove it to Long Beach for a wedding and at 90 mph, it had plenty of pedal left. I was 6’3″ 300 pounds, and could get 6 guys my size into it. I had the front end rebuilt, new shocks and springs, and it ran like a champion. It would go through a starter a year and it was a bitch to put in. It’s interior was dry rotted and I grew weary of should have finished it, but we all of done that. It had the biggest trunk I have ever seen, it was truly huge.
Down south whiskey haulers bro. What they used em for.
I’m pretty sure prohibition was over by then
Rust really shouldn’t be a major or even minor issue on these cars. Even on the West Side of Wahington it generally not a major issue unless you leave something outside to rot. Since these cars are from Spokane on the dry side. Unless these cars are IMPORTS from the NE USA, they shouldn’t have any major issues.
Good price for the two. Glad to see no “Barrett-Jacksonitice” posting price.
These are great cars…in Black…whooo…mama! Lol
As cousin Eddy said….
“really nice” 👌
I like both the 69 and 70 year Marauder, but I’ll keep my 65 for now. I updated my FE 390 heads and intake along with a 4 barrel Edelbrock and petronix ignition. And it warmed up its stock 390 considerably. I love the bucket seats and console in this 69-70 Marauder. Good find
There were several contrasting colors available for the rear of the X-100, so calling it a blackout is a misnomer.
It was deleted with vinyl tops and I’d I recall correctly it was optional in 1970.
Really, what other “non-misnomer” colors were there? The 1969 sales brochure, attached, makes no reference to anything other than a “Sports Tone Matte Finish” as illustrated in black. Seems to me that there would be a color palette, or at least some text, advising what other colors were available.
It was, however, deletable on order.
JO
If brochures generally never feature the entire list of options, why would one expect to list all the colors?
Here’s a few:
https://i.gaw.to/content/photos/18/07/180719_Essai_de_la_Mercury_Marauder_x-100_1969.jpg
Alright, one for now but I know I have seen more.
Just about every old car brochure that I have reviewed, and believe me, for this job it’s hundreds, generally do list all of the options. Otherwise, how would a prospective buyer know what’s available?
How do you know that’s the original paint job? I have seen an X-100 in that shade of blue but the tail section was, as always, matte black. I bet that’s a respray as the owner got tired of flat black or it got chalky as it faded so he redid it in contrasting blue.
JO
Mr. O’Donnell, I posted a chart showing the colors available last night, but it does not appear here. I am trying again.
https://imgur.com/a/thKl03i
It was in the spam filter – that usually happens when images and URL’s are included in a comment. Unless I review the comments constantly, and release those that are spam bound, they’ll stay in there until the cows come home.
JO
Well, you can see that turquoise car was stock, and there were other two-toning colors besides that and black.
No, I can’t see that at all. What I clearly see is the statement that the two-tone arrangement is for the Marauder not the X-100 – my post comment referenced the X-100, not the standard Marauder. For example, note the attachment, there’s an image of a two-tome Marauder in two different shades of blue.
The only thing your attachment says about the X-100 is that the matte finish is deleteable and I’ve already acknowledged that.
JO
Allow me to help you with the chart.
On the left near the bottom, it says MARAUDER TWO-TONE PAINT COLORS (c) (WITHOUT VINYL ROOF).
Underneath that, it says LOW GLOSS 2ND COLOR FOR REAR BODY AREA.
The capital letters and numbers correspond to the paint colors of the body, which can be seen above near the top.
The lower-case letters correspond no the low gloss colors, the codes which can be seen with in the footnotes.
— Code H Light Green, Code 2 Light Ivy Yellow, Code I Medium Lime, and Code C Dark Ivy Green are complemented by code f Dark Ivy Green.
— Code E Light Aqua and Code F Dark Aqua are complemented by code g Dark Aqua.
— Code 8 Light Blue, Code Q Medium Blue, and Code X Dark Blue are complemented by code e Dark Blue.
— Code M White is complemented by Dark Blue, Dark Red, or Black depending on the interior color per footnote h.
— All other paint colors were complemented by code d Black .
Note footnote c says the two-toning is standard on X-100 but could be deleted, while it was extra code on the regular Marauder.
Trey:
Let it go.
I’m sure we, or at least I, have way better things to do than to foam over car documentation.
Goodbye.
JO
That’s a strange way of saying, “I didn’t know that! Thanks for the literature!”
The matte black back was an optional feature on the X-100 only. The X-100 was an upgrade primarily under the hood, which got you a 4 barrel 429. There was also the 2 barrel 390 as the base engine. I’m not sure, but I believe there was also a 2 barrel version of the 429. I’ve never owned one, but I did have a 4-barrel 429 in my ‘69 Mercury Marquis Brougham.
The 1969 X-100 model had the matte color (black or otherwise) standard. It was optional for the regular Marauder. 1970 is different.
Thanks for following up with those brochure pics proving more colors than just matte black were possible on two tone Marauders which I never knew! The pic of the two tone blue Marauder was quite a good looking car!
There has been a slew of cars from the West Coast lately. What’s going on out there to cause all the vehicle sales from that region?
I also love the original Magnum 500 rims on these 69-70 Mercury Marauders. The late 69 colors had changed for sure. My 65 is Tiffany Blue which is almost same as a Lincoln color and glad I left it original color when I had a respray 2 yrs ago.
Jim ODonnell you did a great write up on both the 69 and 70 Mercury Marauders. And you can never please everyone, especially those just seeking an argument.
Thank you, HC.
JO
Again Jim, I enjoyed your write up on both 69 and 70 Marauders. I have a 65 version and some people can go down a rabbit hole of minutia arguing about just any tiny detail. Funny how people who aren’t even BF members feel like they can criticize your posts and waste your time about petty crap.
If I didn’t know any better, your handle was a nom de plume for Jim. Seems we have a writer who doesn’t like learning, and another guy who can’t mind his own business. Same guy?
Yes Trey, and apparently a jerk who is only happy when he’s correcting, criticizing and arguing with everyone. Get a life