The Mercury Marauder was positioned as a personal luxury car, but it was also known for being a high performer, with even the base 390 engine cranking out 265 horsepower. Also standard was a manual transmission, yet few of these came so equipped, making this 1969 Mercury Marauder one rare land yacht. This one’s got a good story to go along as well, and for $15,000, I’m guessing it will take very little time before this one’s in a new garage. Reader Tony Primo spotted this cool Marauder here on Craigslist in Los Angeles, California, and we owe him a big thank you for sending us the tip!
The history here dates back to when this one was new, with the tale beginning that an Air Force pilot was the original buyer, who apparently special ordered this Marauder to his specifications. The Marti Report indicates that the 390 was original equipped with a 2-barrel, but a 4-barrel was added at some point, and that rare (1 of 65) manual tranny has gotten the column-mounted shifter replaced with a rebuilt NOS component. There’s also a new clutch, rear springs, rear brakes, and the original radiator has been recored. The seller mentions that the car has recently been serviced, so hopefully, this one’s ready to perform for the next owner.
It’s not specified whether or not the paint is still original, but the body appears solid and in very nice shape, and if it has been resprayed the workmanship seems to be of high quality. The black vinyl roof also appears to be holding up well, and complements the Yellow nicely, as do the black tires and dog-dish hubcaps. A pair of skirts can be found inside the trunk, but they are a different color and probably not original to the car. I’d choose to leave these off, as the somewhat minimalist appearance here works well without any additional trim.
The interior isn’t exceptionally fancy either, with a vinyl bench seat and not too many options. However, this one does have factory A/C and a rear window defogger, but I think that most will agree that the item of primary importance inside is the clutch pedal. This would be one beautiful ride regardless of the drivetrain, but the manual adds a lot of desirability here in my book, and I’m thinking fifteen grand is a very fair price here. What thoughts do you have to share about this 1969 Mercury Marauder?
Fun write-up Mike on a very interesting car. The back story and the three-on-the-tree make the car. The Air Force pilot who ordered the car knew exactly what he liked and wanted; admit it, I’d say most of us Barn Finders fit in this category. The Marti Report confirms the car, and it would be fun to see the referenced telegrams between Ford and the ordering dealer. “Are you sure you want a three-on-the-tree in this Marauder? You have a buyer for this car? Or is it a typo?”
As for the car itself, it looks good. Has had significant maintenance work.
That “three on the tree” today is the best anti theft device outside of a manual trans. Saab 900
Don’t you love where they put the key on that SAAB?
I know, I know, the first time I tried to steal one, it took me 90 seconds, instead of 60 seconds (LOL)
No, I didn’t from the point of jamming up. Not fun to work on either.
Too true. I took a Mustang to the dealer a few months ago for some recall work. As we were waiting for them to bring the car out, my wife called me, and said “what’s taking so long?” I half jokingly said that they probably don’t have anyone who knows how to drive a stick.
No sooner did I say that when the guy came walking around the corner, and apologized, saying he didn’t know how to drive a stick…
Jonathon, at the trucking depot I worked at 20yrs ago… we were slammed busy, and a truck was just down the road a few miles at the garage, needing to picked up after it’s repairs. We told the manager Tom, who had a class 1 license to go pick it up. He started insisting that ” oh no that’s Union work ” of course he was right but we all agreed go ahead, we’re too busy and need it right away, no grievance.. we promised. Turns out he did his class 1 test on an automatic, and had that restriction of automatic only rigs as part of his license, but was too embarrassed to admit he can’t drive a standard car or truck 😲😀 Awesome Marauder here 👍 🏁
My Millennial age daughter is a bookkeeper at a Les Schwab store in the Sacramento metro area. One more than one occasion a kid in one of the work bays will come in to ask if she could drive in a customers stick shift car into their bay!
Having had manual shift Subarus she and my SIL made the huge mistake of buying one with an auto-she learned quickly that the CVT is junk. Traded it in recently on a WRX 6 speed stick and all is bliss in their household again.
In 2012, I bought two new cars, both manuals, an Acura TL and a Miata MX 5. In each case, the salesman was unable to move the car he sold me across his lot. Then, in 2018, I bought a Nissan Frontier, also a manual. Same thing: the salesman couldn’t drive it.
An old codger, I want to say that society is going to hell when so many lack the knowledge and coordination skills to work a clutch. But I don’t know–nor do I care to know–how to configure a new “smart” TV. And so it goes: different generations have different interests and abilities.
We had armed robbers come into our home and demanded car keys to our series 3 XJ6…… we grabbed the wrong keys and gave him the Manual Saab 9000 keys and when he jumped in the Saab and saw the manual he left in a hurry………
Or a 4 speed column shift Mercedes!
I tried to buy a 5 speed manual cutlass in 77 -special order of course. The salesman begged me not to do it and even got the sales manager over to talk me out of it. They said the car would be worthless as a trade in. I went for the 403 4V and automatic. Now I wonder if I missed having a collector car. I can hear the Mercury dealer trying to talk the buyer out of this car but now we admire it.
Where are the fender skirts? The rear deck would’ve been painted black. I’m not impressed.
Looks like them in the trunk. I think only the X-100 got the rear deck painted black.
That is correct. I think when an X100 was optioned with a vinyl top, the trunk was not painted black. I’d get those fender skirts painted to match and put em on.
Manual brakes!!!!
The pilot better have had a strong left foot!
At one time I had a ’67 Monterey with a 390 and auto. trans. and manual brakes. Sometimes it took both feet to stop it.
I had a 69 galaxy convertible 390 with manual brakes I can attest that at times two feet were needed to get that tank to stop.
This was a PX sale made in the Phillippines. I like the tongue in cheek about the bank being Chase Manhattan Saigon. A lot of GI’s overseas bought a car through the Exchange, just before rotating home. This is one of those deals.
Of I remember correctly. The GM code was XCO for a military order through the PX. As much as I like this car. I would prefer buckets and a 4 speed.
This is the special needle found in a stack of needles!
who would have thought this was even an option 3 on the tree ,I would have tried for 4 on the floor first , still a nice ride that an old fart can drive ! and ac is a plus , maybe you could power up the brakes my Moms 1970 Ford wagon 390 auto ps
had standard brakes and some times it was close !
I know hindsight is 20/20, but the idea of driving a 4500lb., 300HP car with bias ply tires and 4-wheel manual drum brakes is kinda scary to my modern thinking.
Modern thinking for sure. 55 years ago it was what we knew and rather common. Was early 70s when radials began to appear.
Yes bias ply were what we had and lots of cars had manual drum brakes and manual steering along with a manual transmission and we didn’t think twice about it. Like drinking water from the hose it was just normal.
“Like drinking water from a hose it was just normal.” Perfect.
I’d swap out the 3spd and put in a 4spd, while doing so I’d source a floor shift column. The 3spd column shift manual may be rare, but would act like a repellent compared to a 4spd conversion. There are people on this site that say manual transmissions are losing their appeal, that may be the case with new cars, but not the secondary enthusiasts market when it comes to 4 and 5 speed manuals, which are a strong selling point overall, while the 3spd column shift manual has a detrimental effect.
Steve R
This is a cool looking Mercury. If I had it I would put dual exhaust and change the 3 speed into a 4 on the floor. And change the steering column. It would look slick and fun driving it. Maybe change the rear end gear ratio from 3.00 to 3.73 with posi set up. Then this big girl would really move!! I just hope the next owner read what I wrote and fix her up like this. Good luck… 🦅🐻🇺🇸
The paint sure isnt original, there’s overspray everywhere ! Its also missing its original “deluxe” wheel covers
I would check to see if the owner still had those “deluxe” wheel covers somewhere. The Marauder is too large to pull off dog dish ones IMHO.
Although there was a full size wheelcover available, the hot ticket for the 1969-70 Marauders was the Kelsey Hays Mag Star wheels, as displayed on this 1969 X-100.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/146812868286
Can’t remember if Barn Finds allows posting e-Bay ads, but since it’s an old ad, thought they might. The red car has the wrong center caps. Shelby used chrome rimmed Mag Stars on some of his Mustang variants, too.
To each their own. I love the small wheel caps on this one. Throw those full covers in the ditch!
I like it! Had I known, I could buy one thru the base exchange before I left, I would have tried. But I was a grunt so, I doubt my credit would have been good enough
What is that in the garage, a ’59 Olds? Would have been the hot ticket with a 394? Would have even hotter with the J-2 option. So he ordered one when he went, and the other when he got out. Then he spent the next 35 years muscling 727s, 747s in and out of airports around the world.
Now thats an odd unicorn to say. Three on the tree in such a car. A four speed.floor shift would have made it top to desire.
I had a 69 Merc in 1983, paid $100 for it. 390 automatic with manual brakes, I know it had power steering but cannot remember if it had AC. Had a lot of fun with it and one night I knocked a hole in the fuel tank doing stupid things with it, if you must know I was doing our version of cop slides and I just kept going faster with each attempt until I went off the road backwards and took out the tank. I put another tank in it and while I had the tank out fuel was dripping out of the line so I started it to suck the fuel down so it would quit doing that and it never ran again, I have no idea what happened, it had gas to the carb and spark just would not run so it traded it off for another beater. I think it was a 67 ford half ton
I own a one of 40 convertible 1971 LTD with manual 3 on the tree.351 W. Has anyone ever seen or owned one? I do have the Marti report
I saw a 70 XL convertible with a 351, 3 on the tree, radio delete with power windows
I did see a 70 xl convertible with a 351, 3 on the tree, radio delete but had power windows. That one surprised me.
I try to stay out of these automatic/manual discussions now, mainly because some peoples denial makes my opinion moot. It is refreshing to see some people getting the message.
1st, fantastic car, Ford knocked it out of the park with these, much like the Mustang/Cougar. This was a fancier Galaxie, like the Cougar a fancy Mustang. I read, a base Galaxie was around $3grand, and a base Marauder was about $3,300, but usually people that bought the Merc, piled it on, to almost $5grand. This car is exactly what I’m talking about, that uncle in the service, grew up with column shift, and that’s what they felt comfortable with.
This is one of those cars that wouldn’t make it a day for sale if it had an automatic. Even 4 speeds are waning, as evidenced by some of the stories above, supporting my claims. I still think there are enough who would want a car like this WITH a 4 speed, and if it was mine for sale, that swap would insure a sale. As is, even swapping an automatic( a big job) would have better results. It’s the way the cookie is crumbling,,, :(
Or the way the Mercedes Bends!
Original BOS says 390 2V and air cleaner says 390 4V, also 1969 came with front disc brakes, hence the dual master cylinder and proportioning valve.
Looks like a real nice car. I would trash the fender skirts.
I generally hate fender skirts. (Comes from running Goodyear stores in the rust belt!)
Having said that I have seen these cars with the skirts installed and they really improve the body line and overall look. If I bought thus car, I would have them painted up in body color and install them. JUST SAYIN’
This reminds me of when I ordered a 1996 Toyota Camry as a stick shift. I always felt that the car was mad at me for not being an automatic! At the time, I love drinking a manual, as I always felt that I was in control of driving.
Sadly, the car turned out to be a bit of a lemon. The brakes were not adjusted properly during manufacturing and within 3 weeks, I had an accident due to the delay in breaking! The airbags never went off, which surprised me. My car took the brunt of the damage and the car I hit had barely a scratch on the bumper. The windshield cracked badly, twice! The struts were replaced twice within a few months of owning it. I was only able to put on just over 100K in the 11 years I owned it.
This car was not available with a 4 speed when new. If you wanted a manual trans, then a 3 speed was all that was offered.
A friend of mine just recently sold a ’70 Galaxie 500 that was red with black bench seat interior and this exact same driveline (390-2V with 3 speed manual on the column). He got it at an estate sale. It had original paint and only 70K miles.
This combo is even rarer in a Mercury than in a Ford.
Strange with those little hubcaps. I am not a “performance” guy: I like a full-size, body-on-frame, four door luxury sedan myself. I can drive either a standard or an automatic: I don’t care which that a car has. That said, unless it’s something 1938-ish, with the long floor shifter, I want my manual “on the tree”; thank you! None of this bucket-seats and sporty floor-shifter on a centre-console! I did drive a 1969 Ford LTD once, with a #429, 4bbl (aotomatic, column-shifter). Too thirsty, and it couldn’t get octane-satisfied after they went to unleaded gas — “pinged” with the least acceleration. I don’t miss that car!
Awesome Mercury. That 3spd is the goods. Only change I’d make is add a power brakes booster. Maybe a 4 or 5 spd but not necessary. Love the dog dish hub caps on the blk wheels. And for me a rare instance where the vinyl on top is ok, hope the metal is good underneath though.
2 points from me. I’ve had a few full size cars over the years with a 3spd on the tree and never had a problem, except they were behind inline 6’s. That big 8 would be that much better at scooting down the road.
The other is we had a 70 or 71 grand marquis wagon with that basic nose when I was a teenager in the mid seventies, 460, auto. So nostalgia for me?
I’d love to test drive this Merc at a minimum!
Years ago, I bought a ’69 Mercury Monterey from the widow of the original owner. It had the correct dog dish hubcaps caps on it (these are not correct, these are for a Ford). My old Monterey was a 4 door Sedan, had the 390 2 barrel, power steering and manual drum brakes.
Being a Midwestern car (Milwaukee), it’s lower extremities all flapped in the breeze. But I LOVED that car.
My current daily driver is a 1968 Galaxie Wagon (country sedan), also a 390 2 barrel car, automatic. It has power steering and manual drum brakes. I have no problem stopping the big old beast!
I am currently selling my house so I can move to Phoenix. If this is for sale yet when I get down there, I will go check it out. I will have plenty cash from selling the house…