Mercury Marquis

The Mercury Marquis was a vehicle produced by the Mercury brand from 1967 to 1986. It began as a Full-Size Car, but became a mid-size in 1983. Continuing as a full-size was the former top-level trim line, Mercury Grand Marquis. The midsize Marquis was phased out in 1986 by the Mercury Sable.

1967-68
The Mercury Marquis was introduced in 1967 as Mercury's top-line two-door formal hardtop, the only body style available in 1967 and 1968. Curiously, during these same years, the top-line four-door sedan and four-door hardtop models were called Mercury Brougham, while the top-line two-door fastback and convertible remained the Mercury Park Lane.

The 1967 Marquis came with the Mercury-exclusive 330 hp 410 in³ big-block FE engine as standard equipment. The 410 was discontinued for 1968, replaced by a 325-hp 390 in³ big-block. In both years an optional 345 hp 428 in³ big-block engine was also available. The 1967-68 Marquis were similar to the Ford LTD, but were longer and more luxuriously equipped.

1969-72
These were known as the "Continental Styling" years, as Mercury was trying to market itself as an affordable Lincoln, rather than a more expensive Ford. A 1969 advertisement for the Colony Park wagon bills the car as "If Lincoln Continental made a station wagon, this would be it."

This generation of Marquis was available as a full line of cars, with two- and four-door hardtops, a convertible, and a station wagon. The new 1969 Mercury Marauder was based off of the two-door Marquis. Marquis models came standard with a 429 in³ V8 with a two-barrel carburetor. The four-barrel 429 from the Marauder was optional. The three-speed Ford C6 transmission automatic was still the sole transmission.

This generation introduced the hidden headlights that were a Lincoln-Mercury trademark in the 1970s and also introduced rear fender skirts.

1973-78
For 1973, the car received a redesign, giving it new bumpers that protruded from the body, as well as a somewhat boxier overall look. Two- and four-door hardtops (the four-doors had frameless door glass and slim center pillars) were available as the Marquis or Marquis Brougham. The 1975 models were slightly revised to look longer than the extremely boxy 73-74 range. The Mercury Grand Marquis was introduced as a luxury trim line in 1975 when the Mercury Monterey series was dropped and all full-size Mercurys took the Marquis name. Unlike the related Crown Victoria, which was an option package on the Ford LTD, the Grand Marquis was a trim level in its own right. Base and top-line Colony Park station wagons were available.

The big-block 460 V8 became available on this generation, and the 400 Cleveland replaced the 429 as the base motor in 1974. The 460 was standard on the Brougham and Grand through 1977. The 351M entered the lineup in 1978 for a more economical option. In that year the 460 was reserved as an option for the Grand Marquis only.

Advertising billed these cars the best fullsize cars in America. A 1976 consumer survey showed the Marquis Brougham far superior to the competing Oldsmobile 98 and Buick Electra 225. The next year, the Grand Marquis went up against Cadillac Deville and was again the preferred choice.

1979-82
The Marquis was downsized to the Ford Panther platform in 1979, but the car's basic design and trim options stayed mostly the same. The hardtop design was gone, however; the car was available as two- and four-door sedans and four-door wagons. As before, base and Colony Park wagons were available. The hidden headlights gave way to exposed dual rectangular units, and the front end was flatter overall. The interior gained the Lincoln-style white-face instruments with square gauges.

The standard engine was the 302 cubic inch Ford Windsor 302 V8. The 351 Windsor engine was a rare option and is highly desirable today.

1983-86
The models were split in 1983, with the Grand Marquis remaining on the full-sized Ford Panther platform and the Marquis name moved to the mid-size Ford Fox platform, to the model that was formerly sold under the Cougar name. The mid-size Marquis sedans had the SOHC 2.3 L four-cylinder as the base engine. Wagons came with a six-cylinder standard. 1983 models could have the 3.3 L "Mileage Maker" I6, otherwise, the 3.8 L Essex V6 was available in all models and was the most common. The high output 5.0 L Windsor V8 was available in the rare Marquis LTS, sold only in Canada. Four-cylinder models got the Ford C3 transmission 3-speed automatic, while the others received the Ford AOD transmission 4-speed automatic overdrive.

The Fox-based midsize Marquis was produced in Atlanta, Georgia until 1985 and Chicago, Illinois until 1986, when it was replaced by the Mercury Sable.

The Panther-based Mercury Grand Marquis continues in production as a strong seller, though it has been extensively updated and restyled at various intervals. The Grand Marquis may remain in production until at least 2010 as a 'civilian' alternative to its cousin, the Ford Crown Victoria.