Marauder is the perfect name for this sleek black beast. Adding the X-100 makes it that much better, as far as almost seeming like a sinister car out of Hollywood made for a superhero or villain. This one-owner 1969 Mercury Marauder X-100 is posted here on craigslist in the Warren Township, New Jersey area and they’re asking $15,000. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Philbo427 for the tip!
The photos are a bit disappointing for such a nice-looking car, but that’s really nothing new for a craigslist ad. The headlight doors are closed in the photo above but open in the leading photo. They’re closed in all of the other photos so I’m assuming that they work as they should, there’s no mention otherwise in the listing. Mercury offered the Marauder in three generations from 1963 all the way to 2004 but with some multi-year gaps in that sequence.
This is a third-generation car, and they were made in 1969 and 1970 and they’re fairly rare to see today. And to top it off, this one is in sinister black and has been a one-owner car since new. Not to mention, both the paint and interior are said to be original – amazing. Some X-100s had a flat black section at the base of the rear window between the rear “fins” but a buyer could delete that and this one appears to be as shiny as the rest of the black paint is. There will be those who don’t like rear wheel skirts on a car like this, what are your thoughts?
The interior is a 6 or 7 out of 10 according to the seller and it looks pretty good to me. There are some issues with the seating surfaces, but nothing that looks scary or overly expensive. Although, leather isn’t cheap. The back seat looks great (is that a black armrest?) and these were luxury muscle cars, typically loaded with power accessories, and were smooth and quiet, while also being powerful. The profile has to rank up there as one of the most unique and just plain cool designs. I’d want to match up the tires with similar-width white walls, though.
The X-100 came with a Ford 429-cu.in. OHV V8, which had 360 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque when new. This car weighs over two tons but still rallies to 60 mph in around 7 seconds. It sends power to the rear wheels through a three-speed automatic transmission and a console column-mounted gear selector. A console and bucket seats would have been an option. The seller’s price is at Hagerty’s #3 good-condition value, how much would you pay for this Marauder?
Holy smokes now we are talking luxury Brutus! I wonder how the underside of this bad boy looks? All I can say is nothing would be finer then kicking that 4 barrel down into beast mode & letting that 429 sing its war song! Another great car this week! Great job barn finds & the ever great Scotty !
BA, you are way too kind to me, but I agree about Barn Finds being great!
3.25 only gear ⚙️ offered from the staff at Mercury. Sensible choice. Love this sedan in the black paint.
Love it the black paint is 👌 keep the skirts love this car !!!
There it is..my dream car,My Dad had a bright blue 69′(blackout rear delete)And it’s been my holy grail since i was a lad.
sweet sweet ride. i could be persuaded to get this close to being a blue oval guy.
and yes leave the skirts
Good write-up Scotty. Back in the day I was (like other Barn Finders, I presume) more interested in muscle pony cars or intermediates. I didn’t pay much attention to big luxury cruisers, though they were no slouch in the performance department either. But now, I think this X-100 is super-cool. Looks to be in good shape, though the pics are poor. I’d be detailing underhood, and immediately ditching the fuzzy dice. Keep the skirts. Cruise in style.
Thanks, Bob! I agree about the dice, vehicles made up until December 31st of 1959, ok, cars from the late 60s, maybe not so much. The seller probably has great memories of the 1950s and that’s ok. If I had a leisure suit I’d probably wear it now.
I gotta admit myself not paying attention. My grandma had this same car in gold sitting in a barn with 39 k loaded full of dust. She said u want it its urs get it outta here. Told her i wouldnt be caught on a big ol boat like that.
My cousin snatched it up bathed it it was beautiful.
He wanted it cause these cars were used alot for wiskey running back south with that 500 gal capable trunk. Any sorry i didnt take it. See it from time to time, still stunning auto.
A friend had a ’72 mercury marquis, above 85 mph the headliner would implode into the seating compartment, we always thought it was an airbag in case of a rollover, fastest yacht anchor on the road
I don’t see the console mounted shifter….as mentioned in the write up.
You’re right, MaxH!! Sorry about that, I had console on the brain as I knew it was an option, but I meant column-mounted. Good catch, sir!
I would have to add to the overall length of my garage. Nice car though. As comfortable as your living room sofa and you’d have the fastest sofa on the block.
Nothing like a big powerful 2 door luxury cruiser, TBirds, Rivieras, Eldorados, Toronados, Mark Lincolns, Coupe de’villes…the list goes on. I have not seen one of these in years, but our neighbor had one in blue and that car would put you back in the seat while burning the tires. Same setup as this, just different color. I can still smell the combination of leather & cigar.
Leather and cigar. A perfect picture
You are correct you have not seen one in years. And if you needs parts you may never see them.
Sweet sweet ride, so cool. Don’t forget the AC, electric windows, power steering, power window washer and power brakes!!! I would love cruising cross country with the AC and Deep Purple blasting; man what a dream!!!!
Well said sir! Yeah this one ticks all the boxes for me, I always loved a big ol’ rip snorting hoopty, and with that big block under the hood, this one definitely raises my eyebrows. And yeah, I like the fender skirts, I can hear Deep Purple wafting out the windows while the white smoke boils out from under them .. hee hee hee.. dang, back to the tire shop!
Luxury hot rod.
Great piece of ford history. Funny, the nose is the exact same as my dad’s 71 grand marquis wagon which was motivated by a 460/4 bbl back in the mid 70’s. Loved dipping into the throttle to hear the secondaries open and feel the pull of internal combustion. Those 385 big blocks were ready and willing. Great driver training vehicle. There were a few self taught training runs dad never knew about.
This Maurader is a great cruiser, out of the box. Maybe a little pricy but the market is insane these days.
“Exact same” would have to be a ’69-’70 Marquis, but similar, yes.
Close enough. Difference is basically trim.
Performance would have been on par. Albeit ours was a wagon, with 31 more cubes under its factory 4bbl.
Rare car, only seen a few ever.A nice ride as long as there is no hidden rust.I’d offer eleven or twelve K for it.Good buy then.Needs to be detailed.Lose the dice and whitewalls.Good looking Merc
Leave the skirts. This seems a good original car with skirts part of the design. It seems several larger marques like Buick, etc. wore factory skirts well into the 60s maybe longer. I don’t see them as a holdover from the 50s. Now a godawful continental kit would be another matter, but don’t get me started on those.
Was going to say at least you don’t have to buy the dice 😁. With 480 ft/lbs of torque, this beast has some power. Not my favorite luxury car for looks, but give the vehicle its due. Certainly a nice highway cruiser in proper working order.
A great find… if that’s what you want. Tooo big for us!
I remember these being offered in a Day-Glo orange like colour, with the flat back trunk option, wanted one.
World’s biggest and fastest Jack ‘O Lantern.
In black, should have been Steve McGarrett’s off duty car.
Steve McGarretts car was the only one that could sit on the beach until he jumped in it and made the tires squeal, on the sand. LOL
I have only seen one in person and its still there in my hometown.
From the look of the driver he could be its first owner as well.
In Grabber orange with the flat black described in this article-unique cars for sure.
Mileage?
Joel, I forgot to mention that, but we hope that readers will click on the craigslist or eBay listings (highlighted in red in the first paragraph) to get the full story on the vehicles shown here. The seller lists the mileage as 68,799.
WHAT IS THat about? If you are concerned about milage buy some little tin can.
Looks even meaner than “Christine”!
Very true.A friend of mine had one.Was kind enough to loan it to me for a special occasion. I can tell you that the back seat was way better than a couch. Just saying.
My Grandpa had one of these new. His was a Light Yellow Color. Smoke the back tires for a CITY BLOCK. Loved the Big Girls back then and still do. Looks like I retired too soon
How heavy is this beast?
I rarely like fender skirts on any car but I must admit they look pretty good on this beautiful beast. Great ride !
My dad bought one of these slightly used in 1971 gold with black interior. I got to go with him to pick it up. I was only 7 years old but thought this car was awesome. Huge and fast! Would love to have one.
I was working at the local Ford dealership in 1972, when Craig, the used car manager, knowing of my interest in rare and unusual cars, called me on the house intercom and suggested I come over to the used car lot. On my arrival, he showed me a 1969 Marauder X-100, bright red with the satin black decklid, black interior, console and 4-speed. It was loaded with almost every option, Including an AM-FM stereo radio. I don’t remember the exact mileage, but I’m sure it was under 5,000 miles, as the car looked like brand new. He said the car was built for a Ford Motor Co executive, and was the only one built with the 429 and 4-speed. I’ve seen a few more of these over the years, but they always had the C6 automatic. That X-100 only stayed on the lot for a few days before it sold. Never saw it again.
Icing on the cake. 4spd!!
I remember these when they were new, a neighbor had one I powder blue with the blacked out rear deck , that car looked so different than the rest of run of the mill cars, very mean look even in powder blue. One I’ve always wanted the black looks the best. This car needs the buckets console shift and power windows. And yes keep the skirts!
When I was a kid, our neighbors son had a dark blue one of these. It was huge and fast and one night when he came home from a night of partying, he poked the cars nose through the back wall of his dad’s garage.
43 yrs ago I was hitchhiking cross country – little ol guy picked me up in Red Marauder a 65 or 66 – not sure but the 427 badges stuck out & it had the duel quad carbs.
Rolled like a dream ironically he worked at the Chevrolet truck plant Indianapolis.
Nice ol guy told me a few story’s on the road- but that car was all I could think about.
Raw power smooth quiet engine & its weight & wheelbase were Made for the Highway – not even the Lincolns were as smooth & its power dropped the hammer on Cads
The example above is “nice” but that 427 w/dual quads was extra special.