In 1963, Mercury released a fastback version of their V8 powered sedan, a car they called the Marauder. The following year, Marauder was used to describe both two and four door models of the Monterey, Montclair, and Park Lane using a fastback roofline. Developed for NASCAR competition, the fastback roofline would be used on both the Marauder and Galaxy through 1965... [read more]Hired by Ford and tasked with bringing Mercury back to stock car racing, Bill Stroppe, who would later become famous for his off-road racing achievements, was given a rather sizable budget and told to "go for it"
Stroppe hired Arkansas native Parnelli Jones, and at the wheel of Mercury's Marauder, the pair went on to see tremendous success during the 1963 and 1964 seasons, capturing eight major stock car wins in '64, as well as stock-car division victories both years at the prestigious Pikes Peak Hillclimb.
The following year, Mercury phased out the Marauder in favor of a smaller, lighter chassis.
Skip ahead to 2003. Looking to rekindle an old flame, FoMoCo released a new iteration of the Marauder. Based on their Panther platform (see Mercury's Grand Marquis and Ford's Crown Victoria) the new Marauder featured a naturally aspirated 4.6-liter DOHC Modular V8 which produced 302hp and 318 lb/ft of torque. Transmission choices were limited to a 4-speed 4R70W automatic which shared parts with the 2003-2004 Mach 1 Mustang and the 2003–2005 Lincoln Aviator SUV.Considered by many to be nothing more than a dressed up Marquis, the Marauder saw a production run of only 11,052 vehicles. And while we'd agree it is missing something aesthetically, the Marauder stayed true to its roots as an overweight, underpowered, full-size sedan.
For more info on the original Mercury Marauder and its racing pedigree, click here
Images and Info: Great Classic Cars
Editorial: Justin W. Coffey
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