Just 5,000 Miles! 2003 Mercury Marauder

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The Mercury Marauder was a full-size muscle car in the 1960s  When interest in those kinds of automobiles shifted to mid-sized products, the Marauder nameplate was retired. In 2003, it was resurrected for a two-year stint as a latter-day performance variant of the Mercury Grand Marquis. This 2003 edition was likely purchased as a future collectible as it only has 5,000 miles after 20 years. Previously owned by an elderly gentleman who has since passed away, this remarkable survivor is available through a dealer here on eBay. From St. Petersburg, Florida, this current bid is at $27,100 with an unmet reserve.

While the Marauder looked like a Grand Marquis, it received beefier mechanical bits to attract buyers who wanted some performance in their big cars. It resembled a luxurious version of the Ford Crown Victoria which was popular at that time with law enforcement agencies. It was designed to compete with the 1994-96 Chevrolet Impala SS. These were large transports, some of the last built by FOMOCO with rear-wheel drive. After selling just over 11,000 copies in two years, Mercury threw in the towel (they delivered just one Marauder for every 16 Grand Marquis).

This fine example, finished in Silver Birch paint, looks to have just emerged from a time capsule. Other than a tiny scratch or two, it appears as nice as a new car or at least one with such a low odometer reading. This automobile emerged from an estate sale where the prior owner preferred to look at it rather than drive it. The 4.6-liter V8 engine and 4-speed automatic transmission are said to perform well, having recently been serviced (including new tires replacing the original 20-year-old rubber).

The leather interior in this top-notch machine is finished in Light Flint Nudo (don’t you just love these names!). Attention to detail was the order of the day when this Merc was built, including Marauder-embroidered floor mats. The buyer will even be treated to a like-new leather jacket with the same inscription, and the window sticker indicates this car cost nearly $35,000 in 2003 money. This presents as an exception automobile that will go fast even for its size given the V8 which was rated at more than 300 horsepower. For fans of vehicles that are reminiscent of our past, this Mercury could be a terrific find!

Auctions Ending Soon

Comments

  1. RayT

    Hate to say I don’t mind seeing a car go for Large Money, but in this case I don’t.

    My sole regret is that I can’t afford it.

    I think these beasts were very underrated back in the day. They’re fast, handle well, are comfortable, and are basically invisible. I put a fair number of miles on one back in the day, and would put a lot more miles on this one if I could swing the loot needed to bring it home.

    Like 33
  2. Paul

    Drove one of these back during that time that they were available for sale, it was quite impressive to drive with the extra horses, it was sneaky quick. Comfortable ride and drive.

    Like 17
  3. Dan

    I bought a new black 2003. Best hi way car I ever owned. Put 222,000 miles on it, and it burnt no oil and would still get second gear scratch. I also gave the guy that purchased it from me the Marauder jacket, thought it should stay with the car.

    Like 31
  4. Frank Sumatra

    So much better looking than the Chevrolet Impala. Hard to understand why more were not sold. I wonder if they were marketed correctly? I bought a lot of auto magazines at that time and I can’t remember seeing them advertised.

    Like 21
    • PRA4SNW

      Mercury never marketed their performance car models.

      Like 4
      • Frank Sumatra

        Any idea why? I seem to remember Cougar ads from the late 60’s and I think they were in the Trans Am races.

        Like 1
  5. Stan StanMember

    Car and Driver tested one Frank.. an 03 like this beauty. They liked it too, but top speed was limited by driveshaft to 117mph , shame but doubt the new owner would care for the extra 20mph top end anyway. 0-60 was a slowish 7.5sec, but these tanks were over 2 tons. 3.55 gear ⚙️ gets it moving along nicely once your rolling no doubt. I love these cars, what a perfect example for a Mercury aficionado buyer.

    Like 12
    • BoatmanMember

      “Limited by driveshaft”?

      Like 8
      • Robert Proulx

        Drive shaft imbalance. To what i read at that speed the drive shaft would shake similar to unbalanced wheels. So all Marauders and Crown Victoria’s with 3.55 gears were limited to 117 mph. 3.27 geared (police only) went to 130. Civilians stopped at 106. My 1995 Grand Marquis would climb up to there until its leash go yanked back

        Like 9
      • BoatmanMember

        P71 (police) had an aluminum driveshaft stamped in red “Police ONLY”. Always wondered why you couldn’t use one in a passenger car.

        Like 10
      • Stan StanMember

        Ford did this to the 3.7 mustang also. It blitzed the lightening lap in the C&D test, hitting the limiter of 118mph or whatever it was on the straightaway. Crappy driveshaft. Easy fix, but should never leave a factory so equipped.

        Like 6
    • Frank Sumatra

      @Stan- Thanks for the information. Your information regarding the driveshaft makes me even more curious as to what FOMOCO/Mercury engineers were thinking. The driveshafts had to have some type of straightening/run-out check/balancing operations performed at some point during the build process wouldn’t you think? This was such a low-production vehicle it seems to me that the extra time spent in production may have been worthwhile. I know there must have been the standard tug-of-war between Engineering and Accounting. Looks as if the bean-counters won that battle.

      Like 6
  6. Bub

    “likely purchased as a future collectible”
    Hope the old boy did better with his Florida swampland.
    I don’t think automobiles make good investments for the average Joe.

    Like 11
  7. BoatmanMember

    Are those front seats a Fawn color?

    Like 3
    • 370zpp 370zpp

      No boatman, the article distinctly says the color is Larry Flynt Nude-oh. I think.

      Like 8
      • sshayss

        4V mod motors have head cooling issues that lead to valve problems. The timing chains are problematic as well. Avoid.

        Like 2
  8. Rank

    Nice ride, would be a great freeway car.

    Like 7
  9. Bakyrdhero Bakyrdhero

    $35k in 2003 is about $57k today when adjusted for inflation. I like this car a lot, very sharp. I didn’t know they were available in other colors besides black.

    Like 8
  10. CVPantherMember

    A regular unicorn…. I love it and it’s probably worth every penny, but that is way out of my reach. The values on these will only increase over time.

    Like 6
    • SD Ulrey

      As the owner of a 2004 P71 (you’ll know exactly what that is) I fully agree with your comment.

      Like 4
    • David Ulrey

      Blasted comments section. Maybe this time it will allow me to reply. As the owner of a 2004 P71 I fully agree with what you said.

      Like 3
  11. Gary

    Never could get interested in these things. Blob styling with acres of molded plastic inside.

    Like 1
    • Greenhorn

      To each his own. I’m not even a Ford/Mercury guy and I think it’s gorgeous. Would love to have it.

      Like 9
  12. John Phillips

    Though it’s fun to turn it off, traction control was not available on these. And the radio was 1970s audio quality. Otherwise, if McGarrett was still on TV, he’d be driving one.

    Like 5
  13. Greg

    I bought a new 03 black Marauder, had it 12 years, 77000 miles. Enjoyed every second. Sold it in pristine condition for $10000 less than I paid new. I still have my XL leather jacket, monogrammed cup, etc. as momentos. My problem with this one..it’s not black. Henry Ford said it should be black.

    Like 3
  14. T. MannMember

    Everyone is leaving Florida.
    Taking their E Vs, Not taking the land yachts.

    Like 2
    • Rank

      Why would you leave FLA? It rocks!

      Like 3
      • jwaltb

        Don’t have space for all the appropriate answers.

        Like 1
    • Big C

      Sure they are.

      Like 1
  15. Brad chipman

    Had a chance to drive one. Great highway car,smooth as glass

    Like 2
  16. Jim

    I’m the original owner of an 04 Marauder that just turned 60K. I love this car and will likely be buried in it. Being in New Hampshire, the car has never seen bad weather or salt. Gets conversations going everywhere I bring it. Still looks and shines like the day I took I picked it up from the dealer.

    Like 6
  17. Lynda

    My 03 Marauder has 87000 garaged, will out live me. Her name is nitedancer as my email states oh the love we have for these cars. I’m a lady of 74, your never too old.

    Like 9
  18. Timothy R Herrod

    I was reading a Car and Driver magazine back in 1992 and they were doing an article on the new grand marquis. They were showing what the 4.6 was capable of. I don’t remember everything they did to it as it was a long time ago but I know that they lowered it 1 inch and took the limiters off and they got it to do 170 at bonneville I believe it was

    Like 3
    • jwaltb

      I strongly doubt that!

      Like 0
  19. George Mattar

    If I didn’t just buy the wife a new car, this would be in my garage. I got to drive a 2003 black model in 2003. What a car. Of course, I would say that because I own a 2003 Grand Marquis with 143,000 miles that still runs new. Yes, it doesn’t have the complicated engine like the Marauder, but the comfort and fuel mileage and reliability are far ahead of any junk Ford makes today. I paid $11,000 cash for mine in 2008 with 7,000 actual miles. The old lady owner didn’t need the car anymore. People were banging on her door all day once it hit the newspaper, yeah, remember that? I was the first there with the cash. I do not winter drive mine and it is rust and accident free. Kids want to buy it all the time. Not for sale.

    Like 1
  20. Richard Cupka

    It’s True, It was in a Mark VIII and they challenged the Cadillac Northstar.

    They also added a belly pan for aerodynamics, I saw the car when I was working at the Ford Experimental Garage in Dearborn as an Engineer

    Like 4
  21. Dave

    Not a Ford guy,but all the big old boats that could really move get to me.

    Like 1
  22. PRA4SNW

    SOLD for $34,100.

    Like 2

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