This 1969 Mercury Marauder X-100 is in a similar class to the ’69 Buick Wildcat that we saw a day ago here on Barn Finds. At least to me, it is. It’s a big, luxurious, and powerful American car with two doors and this one can be found posted here on craigslist in Pacific, Washington, just east of Tacoma. The seller is asking $9,800. Here is the original listing, and thanks to MattR for sending in this tip!
I think that the Mercury Marauder X-100 is one of the greatest vehicle names in the history of vehicle names. All aspects of that name have a meaning, unlike the mishmash of numbers and letters of today. Or even worse, the made-up names. Altima? Prius? Escalade? Da_uk do any of those names mean?! I know that they have an actual meaning, but most of us grew up in the era when vehicles had nouns for names. The X-100 part was space-age-sounding right when they were landing on the moon. What modern vehicle “name” (or, random grouping of letters and numbers) bugs you the most?
The X-100 package offered mainly visual upgrades, not the least of which was a blacked-out trunk lid and surrounding area which is my personal favorite feature. I mean, other than the drivetrain. Another one would be the rear fender skirts which a lot of people despise but I like on almost any car and especially a long, low two-door like this Marauder. The matte black was free but a buyer could opt out of that feature if they didn’t want it and get a credit.
The seller gives a few photos and thankfully, photos of the engine. Sadly, there are only two interior shots, but they say that this car is 100% original and has “no rust anywhere” which would be the best three words that I can think of when looking at an old vehicle. Sadly, this one doesn’t have the famous U-shaped console automatic gear selector, there is a column-mounted automatic gear selector in this one to churn Ford’s C6 three-speed automatic transmission into action.
The engine is Ford’s 429 cubic-inch V8 which had 360 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque. It’s weird that you can get a new Camry that’s two seconds quicker to sixty miles an hour than this big bruiser is, all while getting 30 mpg compared to 10 mpg, but that’s just the way things work now. Make mine a Marauder X-100 over a Camry any day. Have any of you owned or driven a Marauder X-100?
Here’s another car which, as a kid, I never gave a second look. Now, I think they are cool. As long as those back roads aren’t too twisty and aren’t too narrow, go for a cruise: this Marauder would provide a smooth, effortless, pleasant, comfortable ride. Along with a full dose of presence.
This one needs paint and probably some other sorting-out, but I can visualize it “finished.” And it would be stunning. No Camry for me.
The fender skirts work on this , for me anyway . I don’t like them on some cars . This tank is cool . Camrys wish they could be as cool as this .
X100, No bucket seats no console. You paid up to tool around town in the top of the line model. Spend a couple hundred bucks more and get the good stuff.
As someone whos first car was a 70 Marquis you want that front bench seat. You need that front bench seat. Cause you will be working on your night moves…
The buckets and console were standard With the $700 x100 option but you could delete them for the bench or split bench. I prefer the buckets myself. I get some like the comfort of the bench and additional passenger space. Most that could afford one new we’re not thinking about the girlfriend sliding over.
If this car had the console I would be all over it, still waiting……
1st, to be clear, “Marauders” were NOT very nice people. I don’t think that was the best name for a car. Mercurys, except for a few models, were generally “old man” cars. This was for that uncle that had a good job, possibly still lived at home, and wanted something sportier than a Lincoln. I see you can still get Ford engine blue in rattle cans,,,
Was more than visual upgrades,it had a unique shortened frame,heavy duty suspension(x-100) 4 wheel dic brakes if you wanted..aluminum wheels(lighter) and fatter 15″ tires.As a side note..it often wins burnout contests(annoys me cause i wanna save them all :P.
Seller writes of a/c but I don’t see it!? Kind of
a lofty price for what you’d need to spend…
However; I’ve always liked these.
You can see the ports at left for the high-side and low-side A/C lines, but the lines themselves are missing.
The A/C controls are to the left of the steering wheel, and all the dash vents are in place. The compressor and a cardboard box of hoses etc. can be seen in the second photo of the trunk. Apparently the A/C needs servicing! Guessing there’s probably not all that much need for A/C up there in Washington state. Love the look of this car, but an all-black interior would be better.
Mum had one. she hated it, but that was how it was; dad got the ‘deal’ but he rarely drove ‘her’ cars. She did not like the 2 door with 4 kids, the 10 mpg, cut into her grocery money and she felt lost in it. I guess she complained enough, dad came home with a pontiac grand safari shorty after. I never got to drive it, but i rode shotgun (being the oldest)
I had a 1969 Marauder X100. It was maroon with white leather interior. I absolutely loved that car. My dad bought it new then my oldest sister drove it a while, then it was mine. If I could find the exact car I’d buy it again. Luxurious Muscle Car. What’s not to like.
Howard A: Bud Moore and Darel Dieringer played with their Marauders on a few NASCAR tracks back in the day. The name was quite apt, in that situation. One of Iacocca’s last inspirations for FoMoCo.
Some car names that leave little to be desired: Juke sounds too much like puke. Sonic just makes me hungry. Fiesta sounds like fun but wasn’t. My least favorite was Justy rented one at DFW years ago to go up to Wichita Falls and nearly got blown into Oklahoma.
Love it ! Yes on “Marauder” being one of the greatest names ,slightly above my “Interceptors ” .Also agreed on the console shift being mandatory to reinforce the Gt nature of these monsters.What a great grouping with a Boattail Riviera ,a 67 Eldorado ,and my 66 Toro.
The Marauder X-100 was an eye catcher, back in the day, especially when it was in the available day glow orange!
I don’t remember these or the Thunderbirds having a shifter with a “U” upside down shape? I had a ’68 Chevelle SS396 with that feature (the only reason I had the car-Automatics were cheap) along with the console. Time for a wiki search.
69-70 full size cars with consoles had the U-shifter. Does anyone know what the deal is with the split bench? I’ve seen bucket seat Marauders andFord XLs, and solid bench seat cars, but never a split bench with column shift.
Big fan of 69/70 Marauders. My dad took me to the dealer to see the red/white one in the showroom. Dealer puzzled that the 14 year old was interested in that old man car. I think the choice of interior was buckets in vinyl, twin comfort in vinyl or bench in leather. Still have the brochure downstairs if anybody need to know for sure.
Keep the Camry; I’ll take the Marauder.
There’s a beautiful blue ’70 Marauder for sale on Hemmings, with body-colour steelies and dog-dish hubcaps, and the upside-down U-shape shifter handle on the floor, but unfortunately not the blacked-out trunk-lid area.
https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/mercury/marauder/2507821.html
A straight side view look like a 69 dodge coronet rt.
No!
Please, a Coronet R/T cannot be confused with this bloated pig.
See through rust is generally not a big issue here in the NW Corner especially cars like the Merc. My family had a couple of well used 69 Marquis and they held up well except for some electrical gremlins.
Mine had the split seat with fold down armrests
I read the 69 x100 package cost $700 it included the 429, hidden headlights, three spoke steering wheel, bucket seats, chrome mag wheels (Kelsey Hayes) fender skirts and black out rear deck, both the bucket seats and black out rear deck were delectable options.
My neighbor had a powder blue one that was a sight to behold. Many years later I had the 69 Ford XL convertibile with the bucket seats I wish I kept that car…
In 1994 I was living in Chicago, One day parked across the street of where I lived there was a 69 XL Fastback with a 390 Buckets and Floor Shift Black CA plates in pristine condition at the time it was a 25 year old car. It then sat there unmoved for the next 4 months being buried in snow and salt.
I was tempted many times to put a note under the wiper if the owner wanted to sell it to call me because they obviously didn’t care about the car. I probably could have picked it up for $1000 or less. However come Springtime one day it was gone somebody probably beat me to it.
@Bob_in_TN
I was the same way, Bob. When these first came out I didn’t care for them. They looked bloated. 53 years later I’d give my eye teeth or my first born to have one.
Gorgeous car
I always hated the name “Probe” for a car, as for todays cars it would be the “Clarity”