It's so much more than displacement as well, although that's the main thing. I'd like to do a video some day about why the 385 does such a good job in a variety of applications.
That dome light fixture was used on our 1966 Fairlane wagon and our 69 Ford Galaxie 500 wagon. Ford was famous for using the same parts on different models. That might be a video idea.
My father, who worked for Ford as a research scientist from 1950-1986, got a new lease car directly from Ford every year from 1967-1986. In 1973, he had this same Mercury model, in medium aqua with a dark blue vinyl roof. Great car!
Thank you so much for this video. My father had a 75. It was a cannon. Your Marc Ruffalo giggle when you did your burnout was Hysterical, We drove it across Canada in 77. It was one of my fondest memories . I also used to push it out of my parents laneway at 2 am and drive it around our town. I was 15. Ya I got caught. On the twentieth time. Yay Youth. Love from Canada
My Dad sold Fords for a longtime, and only part time, and I worked at the same dealership as a kid. He sold a Country Squire to Gary Merrill and Betty Davis in 1958, who lived down the road. In the 70's as kids, long after Davis and Merrill divorced, we used to hit the salt water pool at night, the compound was vacant, except for a caretaker, I think. He started buying Mercury's after he retired, starting with Cougar and the moving up to and staying with the Marquis line all the way to the end.
I am forever grateful for Mercury having that "brow" of material on the top of the dash. My dad had a crash in our 73 Meteor Rideau 500 and the only thing that saved me as the passenger from being tossed head-first into the steering wheel is gripping that! When we sold that car, the indentations of my fingers were on that brow! 😊 The 69 Torino who hit us had a destroyed front end but we just had rear quarter panel and axle damage.
So true about the silence. I took my 460 MkV on an 1800 mile road trip in 2019, and it simply has to be experienced to believe how quiet the engine is. Even at a GPS indicated 110 MPH it was but a whisper. Unlike V8’s today that seem to all have a rumble to the exhaust. Like a loud Harley it seems du rigor today to be loud and noticed. I appreciate a rowdy cammed V8, but there is something to be said for turbine like smoothness and silencio.
As a fellow owner of one of these fine cars, I can confirm all of Adam's commentary. My version has the self-leveling rear suspension, which provides a simply cloudlike ride. They are truly quiet, well made, comfortable cars.
Speaking of heater cores, you should add a short video explaining to the viewers the differences and dangers of the green and orange coolants. Green for brass/lead solder construction versus orange for aluminum components and how the differing additives are entirely specific to the systems metallurgy and can cause expensive and unnecessary damage if used in the wrong application.
I recall many long trips in my dad's '73 Thunderbird. That was a very quiet car. So quiet, the engine shut off going down a hill because the points "snapped" and the only way I could tell was that the AC got warmer. Couldn't hear the engine. Honking the horn sounded like a horn somewhere far off in the distance - which it was because the hood was massive.
I just watched this video after watching Bill from Curious Cars and his experience with in a Tesla. Talk about a complete opposite experience. Cars like this 1973 Mercury Marquis Brougham may be 50 years old but the experience of driving one is still far superior to driving anything more contemporary, at least in my opinion. I hope to eventually get something from this general period of time so I can relive the joy of driving again. Thanks for the great video reminders.
my grandpa had a 74 LTD with a 460. I fell in love with that car and I have owned several LTD / Grand Marquis. I even owned a 78 LTD with the rare rear wheel disc brakes
Adam, I never miss a one of your videos. I’m a novice and you teach me a lot. My wife and I both love this Mercury - which is rare for her to like any classic car! I’m going to look for one of these.
You have great taste in cars,Adam. I'm always impressed with the fine examples you find,always mint looking. I'd like to thank with sharing them,as well as your extensive knowledge.
Beautiful car. I have always thought the ‘73-‘78 Marquis were such handsome cats. I also have always thought that the high back twin comfort seats were one of Ford’s best features. Why they only offered them for a few years is a mystery to me. Great video and fun car!
Beautiful, and I can see why you like it so much. 25+ years ago I had a 1974 Miller-Meteor Cadillac Criterion ambulance. It had about 65,000 miles on it when I bought it, and it ran and drove like new, except it needed a front end alignment. I flew out to Denver and drove it home to NJ. It was a fantastic highway cruiser, and it got 14.5 mpg on every tank of gas. I put it on a scale when I got home, and it weighed in at 7160 pounds with about a half a tank of gas in it. It had no air conditioning, and no power windows and locks. Anyway, I paid $6000 for it, way back then, and I overextended myself when I paid that. So I ended up selling it about 2 years later, I think. The quietest car I ever rode in was a `65 Imperial that I went to see in 1983. I took a ride in it, but never bought it. The only FoMoCo product I ever owned is the `97 Lincoln Town Car I have now, which I actually got for free, in about 2010.
Of all your cars this is my favorite. I love the light blue, white vinyl top and beautiful white interior, true luxury which sadly is missing from todays cars. I was lucky to inherit my grandpa's 73 Meteor when he passed. Two door car with silver paint a black vinyl roof and black interior. Very similar to this car but without hideaway headlights, I sure miss driving it.
Love it! I'm glad you put the original wheels & hubcaps back on. I may have passed when I saw it with those racing wheels on it. And definitely if it had those stupid 22s ..totally destroys those old cars! Thanks for sharing
Always loved a Marquis and have always adored the Powder Blue and white combination on just about anything! That is one beautiful Mercury! I've personally owned a couple of LTD's, a Gran Torino Brougham, and my ultimate was a Stunning 1985 Lincoln Town Car that I simply loved and miss to this day, which I stupidly traded in on a 1988 Cadillac Sedan de Ville that was a nightmare from day one! It was just a Cavalier with a gland problem!!! I despised it and couldn't get rid of it fast enough!
In the late 1980s I owned a 1973 Galaxy 500 sedan in that exact color combo - powder blue with a white vinyl top and white interior. I bought it for $750 from a lady named Betty Crocker in rural western Washington.
I owned 1 of those, 1977 versions though, crossed the USA almost coast to coast , never got any issue with the model. $1500 I paid, But that was in 1989/94…😢 writing from France, thanks for posting this video. Most people are ignorant.
i always liked merc's...being brought up around them ...first was a 65 merc montclair 4 door hard top...at the same time our neighbor [ were my aunt and uncle ] owned a 67 merc 2 door hard top montclair ..then dad bought a 69 merc 2 door hard top ...then a 71 marquis brougham ..when i got older i actually owned all of those cars ...and owned a 1990 merc marquis LS ...that was a loyal car for 14 years
CFO of the company I used to work for had a loaded '75 version of this. It was like a Dove Grey with a darker landau top, but I can't find the color on a '75 Marquis chart. It was his sweetheart 💖 License tag was XTINCT 😄
I love these land yachts, baby blue looks good on this although i could never have a white interior. Retiring soon and hope to get a '77-'79 Lincoln Town Car sedan, but my garage is only 17' deep😢. I so enjoy your commentary.
Yea I think many of us remember those GM door locks. My mom would be stopped at a red light and some man would come walking down the sidewalk and she'd lock the doors and embarrass me. 🤣
Simple Green deluted 50% in bucket and a quality horse hair brush will brighten that top nicely. Good dirt lift yet easy on the vinyl. Rinse 2 times then your favorite conditioner 👍
You have a dynamic fleet of beautiful classics that look like they were just driven home new from the dealer. My last memories of these cars were represented as oil burning beat up rusted out hulks that everyone despised. It is amazing you have found so many survivors to love and cherish. Is there a home for sale on your block LOL You would be the coolest neighbor. Thanks again for sharing all of your vehicles and wealth of knowledge with us.
I always liked Merca. My first car was a '61 Merc. I have almost always had Dearborn iron ever since! I yearn for the days when cars did not look like angry kitchen appliances.
Absolutely love the color ! I generally like lighter, brighter colors. Although that black ‘72 Lincoln Continental Coupe…HAS to be one of the most spectacular cars ever !
Start stall start! Very true. I had a 73 mercury meteor brown, but bare bones car with a 400. It was a great car, until the weather got warm, and we'd all cook with the plain glass! Lots of sketchy memories..😂
Huge wheelbase, LTD moved to 121", but in 1966 the Galaxie 7 Litre was a nice and tidy 119". It almost qualified as a muscle car, as 66' GTO at 116", being the definitive.
Ooooh, that is a very very very nice sled. Those long of and super heavy doors, and they shut with such a satisfying thunk. No sag. Quality that lasts. I had black on black 72 TBird, ten choice taillights all the way across the back. The only sexy car I’ve ever owned. Its power rear windows did not move downward, more straight back, a nifty oddity. It was super smooth and also very quiet, loved it. High dash and narrow side windows, it felt private inside. I recall sitting in sim powder blue 73 TBird at a dealer, white interior. It was unusual and lovely. A friend’s dad got a deal at state auction on a white plain wrapper 73 Monterey cop car for his high school son. 460 of course!! Certified 140 mph speedometer. I wonder if it had a quicker rear end ratio. They left the hand throttle attached to dash, right side. It never worked, figured surely disabled for safety. One Sunday afternoon friend was driving it down empty rural small town main steeet. I leaned over and asked “You sure this does not work?” And tugged on it, it very surprisingly came all the way out that it normally could, the accelerator flopped to the floor and friend was power braking it down main drag, tires squeaking all the way. I suppose not so funny to he as he tried so hard to get it popped back into normal position. From the passenger seat, teen, it was one of the funniest things ever witnessed. He picked me up one day to go to local town. Motor was rattling terribly. Farm boy, I checked the oil, absolutely none on the dipstick. He wanted to drive it to town and not be late for a set time gig, I threw fit and said no way !! , without adding quarts of oil. We did, it quieted down and off we went. I was plain shocked to think of driving it 20 miles and almost no oil circulating. Wrong-o bongo !! The 73 Merc looks better outside than 72, but the dash with big slab of flat plastic does not match the high end look of the rest of the car. Such a comfort cruiser. Not fun to parallel park nor expect tight turning circle. I love over assisted steering and brakes, tho. What is the point of power steering if can barely tell it has power assist ??
Mercury Monterey had a police interceptor model that was the best ride in ‘74. Had a sergeant who ended up with a new ‘’76 Nova but called in every favor he had to get his Mercury back. I don’t blame him. The Novas were nearly shot after 2 years of service. The Mercury after being overhauled was finally retired in ‘81.
Adam, it's always a pleasure to listen to an enthusiast who understands the mechanicals, aesthetics and emotions that these cars elicit. Thank you! My favorite car growing up was my parents 1969 LTD Country Squire Wagon with the 429. It was a quiet, comfortable, capable vehicle, stellar ride AND it scooted when you gave it the beans. Will you ever own a wagon?
As a kid growing up in the early 1990's I don't recall seeing many 1973-74 full sized Mercury's but saw many of the 1975-78 full sized Mercury's, I think the full sized Mercury's are very underrated cars, I thought the 1971-78 full sized Ford's looked a lot better than the 1971-76 full sized GM's (especially the 1974-76 GM's). What are your favorite years for the classic cars? Mine are from 1967 to 1970.
@@RareClassicCars Hey Adam, my favorite years are also 65-72, with 69-70 tops for most models. Back in the day, we used Wesley‘s bleach-white to clean our white vinyl roofs. I’m not sure if it shortened the life of the vinyl, but they did come out a beautiful bright white. Shortly before I got rid of my last car that had a white vinyl roof (‘70 Lemans Sport) in the mid-80’s, I bought the economy size half gallon jug, that is probably still sitting on the shelf in my garage. 🤦🏻♂️
I had 2 1978 Mercury Marquis, one had 400ci and the other one had a 460ci. I can say it was the most comfortable cars I ever had. I have a 1971, 429ci, it is a quicker car, but not comfortable as the 78’s.
My mom had a Dodge Aspen in a similar light blue with white vinyl quarter top and interior. I wouldn't pick the color. But it definitely works on this one. And on mom's Aspen
Dad had one like this new in the glamor gold color with white vinyl top. He told me he ordered it with the 460 police interceptor. He never failed to do a burnout when asked.
My mom has a brown 73 4-door with the cloth seats, she totaled it doing 85, she hit some ice and went into a corn field flipped it end over end. I’ve got pictures of it when my grandpa towed it home. She lived to tell about it.
