What makes us so sure of future collector value?

[Dan]

I hope that I don't upset anyone and that you all know that I am as much a Marauder head as the next one. I, too, want the value of our Marauders to climb over time.

I guess my question is what makes us think that they will every actually become collectible? Please, try to give answers that contain some logic verse the more subjective "'Cuz they RULE!:rock:" type of answer. :)

I am a bit sceptical and here is why.
1. The 60's Marauders do not seem to have acheived the desirability we are predicting for our cars.
2. The car is based on the Panther Platform and I don't see a big collector future for that platform.
3. Mercury has let this car live in near obscurity. This is probably the biggest concern.

Please note that I WANT to think that our cars will grow in desirability and collectability so I WANT you guys to give me your reasons for thinking.

Thanks,

Dan

[teamrope]

The one thing in our favor is the limited production run. Other than that only time will tell.

#3 is the only reason they may not that makes me nervouse. The car first started hitting the dealerships a year and a half ago, and few people have a clue of what they are.:shake:

[jgc61sr2002]

The Marauder will apprecate in value but that is a long way down the road IMO. In the meantime enjoy.. :D

[dwasson]

I figure I win either way. If they go up in value I'll have a valueble collectors item and if they don't I can afford a second one to play with.

[Dan]

Dan,

I just LOVE that attitude.

Dan

[teamrope]

I figure I win either way. If they go up in value I'll have a valueble collectors item and if they don't I can afford a second one to play with.
Good answer!:up:

[Logan]

Bah... It's a car. Having a car that's actually an appreciating asset is so incredibly damn rare it ain't funny. If $200k Ferrari's and other exotics don't appreciate in value, why in god's name would ours...

Just drive it to enjoy it. Cars historically make crappy investments.

[deerejoe]

...is in the eye of the beholder.

If you bought the car...why??

Most buyers of 'collector' cars appear to be doing so for the joy of ownership of that particular car.

Pricing TOMORROW can go north or south depending on many factors.

The few, most memorable cars are those which over time command the most attention from those buyers who either remember them from their youth and now have the means to afford them...or those buyers who play the collection game with 'old', high value cars for showcase display.

I believe its safe to say that high value constitutes a car with VERY LOW miles, pristine (original) condition and unique OEM equipment.
Any deviation from OEM is detrimental to its overall value.

OEM parts availability also play a role in value. The more difficult to obtain parts the more value the 'complete' car will retain.

Modified, 'high use' cars are not regarded as high value unless they were purpose built and achieved particular accolades for performance. The AC Cobra might be an example.

In todays saturated market of performance cars from all countries at all prices; the 'collector' car may have to be redefined.
As the attrition process removes one generation of buyers; to be replaced with a new generation...it remains any one's guess what might constitute a 'collector' car.

Like most members here would say: use it for the purpose you bought it.

If performance is your goal: upgrades can be had for a reasonable cost compared to buying the factory performance models. Many other savings can be realized as well.

If uniqueness is your goal: the Marauder has that already. Meticulous care and judicious use will give YOU all the VALUE you can expect.

In summary, look inside yourself for the desireable aspects of what a 'collector' car means to you. Most buyers have personal reasons for paying 'collector' prices. Will YOUR Marauder qualify for that desire down the road??

Generally speaking, if you KEEP the car for 'collector' value, be prepared to abide by all the rules of the game.

[Smokie]

1- I don't believe they will become collectibles
2- I don't believe they will appreciate in value
3- I don't care.

[jspradii]

I hope that I don't upset anyone and that you all know that I am as much a Marauder head as the next one. I, too, want the value of our Marauders to climb over time.

I guess my question is what makes us think that they will every actually become collectible? Please, try to give answers that contain some logic verse the more subjective "'Cuz they RULE!:rock:" type of answer. :)

I am a bit sceptical and here is why.
1. The 60's Marauders do not seem to have acheived the desirability we are predicting for our cars.
2. The car is based on the Panther Platform and I don't see a big collector future for that platform.
3. Mercury has let this car live in near obscurity. This is probably the biggest concern.

Please note that I WANT to think that our cars will grow in desirability and collectability so I WANT you guys to give me your reasons for thinking.

Thanks,

Dan
Your last concern is the most important. THIS CAR IS RARE! That alone will make it valuable. I intend to race mine, and if I can find one to "store" I will do that. This is NOT a Mustang! Or even a GTO of 60's vintage. I always told people who were interested in this car not to buy it for it's value in 4, or 5 or even ten years; but the rarity of the model mak:banana: es it valuable. If you do something to make a performance car out of it, you will just have more fun. To me, once mine is in pure race mode, I'll buy a Sable to go to work in. This car is too much fun to abandon. I won't!

[Patrick]

The TRUE value is my opinion!!!!! I would never buy or get vehicle as a "collectibale"! Hell ist going to have to sit in a garage and not be driven much. :cry: What a life for a car. :alone: I buy to drive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1

[jspradii]

The TRUE value is my opinion!!!!! I would never buy or get vehicle as a "collectibale"! Hell ist going to have to sit in a garage and not be driven much. :cry: What a life for a car. :alone: I buy to drive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1
You are so right! A collectible is one that has "few" miles on it. Mine has 47,000 on it. It spanks stuff at the track. What do you want? A daily driver that pretends to be a race car; a daily driver that is a race competitor; or both. There's no blog here. You can do with it what you wish. I have, and am pleased with the results. A racecar can have 1 or 100,000 miles on it, odometer wise. What counts is stability. I mean, if I wanted to put another $30-40k in this car, I could make it run 8's.. But is that the point? I think not. Value???......it's all in your head. At some point, we have to agree, that trying to run a 2-ton sead at 8,9,10 levels, with a small block, is insane. With my setup, even at a 300 hp nitrous shot,my goodness, I can't go below a 10.5!!! I have no desire to put a roll cage in my family car. But, it is fun, No?

[Patrick]

You are so right! A collectible is one that has "few" miles on it. Mine has 47,000 on it. It spanks stuff at the track. What do you want? A daily driver that pretends to be a race car; a daily driver that is a race competitor; or both. There's no blog here. You can do with it what you wish. I have, and am pleased with the results. A racecar can have 1 or 100,000 miles on it, odometer wise. What counts is stability. I mean, if I wanted to put another $30-40k in this car, I could make it run 8's.. But is that the point? I think not. Value???......it's all in your head. At some point, we have to agree, that trying to run a 2-ton sead at 8,9,10 levels, with a small block, is insane. With my setup, even at a 300 hp nitrous shot,my goodness, I can't go below a 10.5!!! I have no desire to put a roll cage in my family car. But, it is fun, No?

Well said!
:bows: :bows: :bows:

[Bluerauder]

...is in the eye of the beholder.

If you bought the car...why??

Most buyers of 'collector' cars appear to be doing so for the joy of ownership of that particular car.
The thought of the Marauder being a collector one day never entered my thought process. For me, it is a daily driver and one that I like more than any other car that I have bought over the past 30+ years. :banana:

Why??? From the first view of a pic in Motor Trend, I liked it...alot. Maybe it was the "sinister look" of the Black MM that grabbed my attention. After much consideration and nearly 18 months of internal debate ... I decided the time was right. I went looking for a Black MM and came home with a Blue MM ... certainly less sinister ... but the Blue just jumped out and bit me. I had absolutely no idea the Blues even existed or that they were so rare. My MM just feels right ... and feels good. Collector's item ??? ... That ain't why I have it.

[Panther II]

Anyone figure a value for a 03 Marauder (Black) with under 40k in about 2 years?

I'm just asking because I plan to buy one in that time and don't plan to spend over 20k for it because I atleast wanna have a great deal of mods lined up for it.

-Dave

[Hawaii 5-0]

I can't find the magazine right now, but in the "on the block" section of Automobile magazine there was a snap shot that went something like this:1994 Ford Mustang Cobra Indy conv., 10 miles, as new, sold for $22,500, then the comment read something like, Vehicle stored in as new condition still in the wrapper, one of only ____ built MSRP of $26,500. Stored 10 years and lost $4,000 in value "buy new cars to drive".... (All the numbers are off a little, can't remember them exactly):)

[Silver_04]

I would recommend buying Hot Wheels as a collector car investment. :) The only thing Marauders seem to collect is dust on dealer lots. Mine was purchased with only one intention-to drive it like I stole it.

[teamrope]

Anyone figure a value for a 03 Marauder (Black) with under 40k in about 2 years?

I'm just asking because I plan to buy one in that time and don't plan to spend over 20k for it because I atleast wanna have a great deal of mods lined up for it.

-Dave
You may not have to wait that long. I think there is one for sale on this site with under 2000 miles for 19,500.

[Patrick]

I would recommend buying Hot Wheels as a collector car investment. :) The only thing Marauders seem to collect is dust on dealer lots. Mine was purchased with only one intention-to drive it like I stole it.

I got almost 1,000 Hot wheels so far!!!! MAybe sum will be worth something one day.

[Dan]

Thanks for all of the comments.

Honestly, I ddi not buy my Marauder b/c I think it will be collectible. Although the rarity of blue was nice to me it was just icing on the cake. I was going to buy an MM no matter what.

I, too, love my car. And I don't really care all that much about future collector value. But will that change my choice to not drive it in the rain or the snow? No way. Will that change my decision to bolt on a charger some time in the near future? I say again, no way!

I continually get looks with my car. Today a newer Impala saw me on the highway and tapped his brakes to slow down so he could get beside me. I thought he wanted to play but he just wanted to get a real good look at give me a thumbs up.

At the car show on Friday I got TONS of comments about the car and its color. People just loved it. These two reasons alone are enough reasons to own, love and keep my Marauder.

Do I think it will climb in value? I don't know. My gut tells me that it probably won't. But if it does that is icing on the cake and, if it doesn't, I can go out and buy a parts car cheaper - just like Dan said.

Best,

Dan

[Panther II]

You may not have to wait that long. I think there is one for sale on this site with under 2000 miles for 19,500.

Well the thing is is that is when I plan to get another vehicle. My 97 Vic has 62k and plenty of life left in it, so I atleast wanna get my money out of that, but I do have a future for a Marauder whether 2003 or 2004 model years. Plus if I can keep the price of the vehicle under 20k then my mods list will fall into place. Besides 2 years isn't that far away. :)

[Patrick]

At the car show on Friday I got TONS of comments about the car and its color. People just loved it. These two reasons alone are enough reasons to own, love and keep my Marauder.

Thats the the true value!!!!!! And thats what makes this car and this MM forum special.
:bows:. A GREAT car and GREAT people!!!! :up: :up: :up: If sumone wants to buy a MM and save her for money down the road. Go for it!! Your choice, No prob. This topic will be replayed again in time. But thanks for posting this and letting us talk about our love affair with our Rauders. Enjoy yours!!!! :bows: :bows: :bows:
Patrick

[Merc-O-matic]

The wholesale price of a 2003 Marauder
today is $18K next year it will be 15K, etc.
Drive it and enjoy it.......

Gotta Love It! :pimp:

[Panther II]

The wholesale price of a 2003 Marauder
today is $18K next year it will be 15K, etc.
Drive it and it enjoy .

Gotta Love It! :pimp:


Thats what I like to hear! :D

In all seriousness, the Marauder will never have the value loss a 03 or 04 Crown Vic or Grand Marquis will have.

[rumble]

I buy good Irish Whisky to enjoy,
I bought my Marauder to enjoy,
You want investments?
Call Edward Jones.

[Marauderman]

Your last concern is the most important. THIS CAR IS RARE! That alone will make it valuable. I intend to race mine, and if I can find one to "store" I will do that. This is NOT a Mustang! Or even a GTO of 60's vintage. I always told people who were interested in this car not to buy it for it's value in 4, or 5 or even ten years; but the rarity of the model mak:banana: es it valuable. If you do something to make a performance car out of it, you will just have more fun. To me, once mine is in pure race mode, I'll buy a Sable to go to work in. This car is too much fun to abandon. I won't!
........then you need two of them.....so go ahead and get the other......

[Marauderman]

...is in the eye of the beholder.

If you bought the car...why??

Most buyers of 'collector' cars appear to be doing so for the joy of ownership of that particular car.

Pricing TOMORROW can go north or south depending on many factors.

The few, most memorable cars are those which over time command the most attention from those buyers who either remember them from their youth and now have the means to afford them...or those buyers who play the collection game with 'old', high value cars for showcase display.

I believe its safe to say that high value constitutes a car with VERY LOW miles, pristine (original) condition and unique OEM equipment.
Any deviation from OEM is detrimental to its overall value.

OEM parts availability also play a role in value. The more difficult to obtain parts the more value the 'complete' car will retain.

Modified, 'high use' cars are not regarded as high value unless they were purpose built and achieved particular accolades for performance. The AC Cobra might be an example.

In todays saturated market of performance cars from all countries at all prices; the 'collector' car may have to be redefined.
As the attrition process removes one generation of buyers; to be replaced with a new generation...it remains any one's guess what might constitute a 'collector' car.

Like most members here would say: use it for the purpose you bought it.

If performance is your goal: upgrades can be had for a reasonable cost compared to buying the factory performance models. Many other savings can be realized as well.

If uniqueness is your goal: the Marauder has that already. Meticulous care and judicious use will give YOU all the VALUE you can expect.

In summary, look inside yourself for the desireable aspects of what a 'collector' car means to you. Most buyers have personal reasons for paying 'collector' prices. Will YOUR Marauder qualify for that desire down the road??

Generally speaking, if you KEEP the car for 'collector' value, be prepared to abide by all the rules of the game.
So perfectly spoken....that says it all..and it's right!!!!

[Marauderman]

At the car show on Friday I got TONS of comments about the car and its color. People just loved it. These two reasons alone are enough reasons to own, love and keep my Marauder.

Thats the the true value!!!!!! And thats what makes this car and this MM forum special.
:bows:. A GREAT car and GREAT people!!!! :up: :up: :up: If sumone wants to buy a MM and save her for money down the road. Go for it!! Your choice, No prob. This topic will be replayed again in time. But thanks for posting this and letting us talk about our love affair with our Rauders. Enjoy yours!!!! :bows: :bows: :bows:
Patrick
Your so right--just this past Sat. in Alt,Ga.while getting gas to go home--a guy on the other pump says--hey." is that some different kind of CV or GM"...I said..not even close--and tell him the quick story .. of its life for 03/04 and of course what it is--he said
it looks fast and sounds really different ---I had to say-- -cough--yeah -it is -and most owners have them faster than when they left their lot....---so--yeah --after almost 2 years --its like I just drove it off the lot--people still going googoo over it---can't blame them--can you!!!!!!!...Tom

[David Morton]

I think it is a bit too early to be thinking "collector" unless you're talking about exhaust systems.

I'm 46 and don't feel like squeezing into a Mustang (I'm also 6'5"). I bought the car for the good looks, (really outstanding) and the good feel of a well engineered muscle car. Stabbing the throttle from a dead stop as I execute a right turn going over railroad tracks and most of my attention being on not driving into the tailpipe of the guy that thought I was history is something that's hard to find for $36k.

I've been an ASE Master Tech and if I wanted to "mod" anything to race I can think of a lot of platforms and drivetrains that are better suited than the Grand Marquis, it's just too heavy. I don't plan to do any modifications that aren't factory other than Mercury Gods Head valve stem caps or some such thing.

Maybe they will be worth something one day if enough of you guys wreck them, either in crashes or turning them into werecars.

Grrrrrrrr.

Cujo....

[duhtroll]

I agree with some of the above.

I don't give a tinker's rat's patootie what it's valued at ten years from now. I love the car, and no one else around here has one. It's the perfect car for me. 'Nuff said.

-A

[dwasson]

I bought it for a purpose. There is not another car I can afford that will average 85MPH from Atlanta to Detroit, filled with two people, luggage, and the volume of crap my wife can find in tourist traps. And, it does it effortlessly. I can imagine that in a few years I may decide to replace it but, right now, I don't know what I'd buy. The only real fault I can find with the car is the stereo. Any other weaknesses can be easily fixed.

This is the first car I've owned in almost 20 years that I care enough about to modify. I read that some of you are thinking that you need more stimulation and are starting to fantasize about other cars. Maybe I'm old fashioned. I'm still married to my first wife after 22 years and I still love my Marauder.

[cruzer]

Ever since I had my '92 G/M LS w/perf pack, I have been heckling every factory rep I could contact to get a bigger engine in the GM--when I heard rumors of the Marauder, I told my dealer I wanted the first production car--well, didn't work out that way--but I did get my Marauder. I was 75 years old when I bought it , took a 100,000/6 yr warranty. That figures I will be 81 when the warrany runs out and my youngest grand daughter will be graduating from high school. I plan to give it to her then---IF I can no longer drive it the way it should be driven. To me, it is already a "collector car" ---for those of us who own them--we already have a car few people have and it will get long looks for a long time to come. Price is not a factor in the way I feel--Buy it, enjoy it and pass it on :up: :up: :banana2: :cool:

[Macon Marauder]

My wife says that I ruined it for all of the rest of you. See, I like to buy and drive limited production or "rare" vehicles. The idea that they may one day appreciate in value is a long shot. So far, I'm batting .000 - so Sandra says that by owning 2 Marauders now I've virtually guaranteed that they'll have no collectible value.

Sorry.:(

[Dan]

"Were-cars" and "tinket's rat's patootie's."

LOL. What will they say next?

Best,

Dan

[67435animal]

What's collectible? Each generation of Corvette drops in value like a stone when the new generation is announced. At best, I hope that the MM will have a higher resale than the Grand Marquis. I plan to keep mine for a very long time.

If it helps, no one thought these cars (below) were anything special until about 10 years after they first hit the streets. Since then the prices have climbed dramatically. So, if you're thinking that the MM is an investment in the short term, you're going to be disappointed.

Bob

[stevengerard]

Same here, bought it to enjoy it. Actually what makes a car most valuable in the future is how desirable it was in the past. Common wisdom says the '80 - '90 Mustangs will be the 57 Chevy's of tomorrow as it was the most modified and desirable car of its time - lots of teenagers bought them.

Rarity doesn't always make value either. I'm an Olds nut and will tell you the 1970 Cutlass with the V6 3 on the tree of which only 22 were made doesn't mean any one will pay a dime more for it then one with the 350 in it. There is a reason it is rare - nobody ordered them because nobodyt wanted it.

I hope for all of us one day our cars will be valuable again - I think they will to a point but I don't buy anything like this for an investment, not smart enough or rich enough to take those chances.

[gpfarrell]

I pondered a similar question 6 or 7 years ago.

I had a very rare & desireable Taurus SHO. It was the last of the hard-core first generation cars, had the unheard-of "Plus" package, and was one of just 900 first gen cars painted emerald green.

It had every option and was everything it should have been.

It was also my daily driver. When it was time to freshen the paint I had to decide how much $ to spend. Was my SHO a modern-day Hemi Belvedere that would bring fortunes in years to come or just a nearly worn-out Taurus?

I decided the restoration route was too risky... I knew I'd enjoy driving the wheels off of it... I didn't know if it would make an enjoyable investment. I made it look nice and sold it for another a few years later. No regrets, really enjoyed the car but it was time to move on.

OH, rare doesn't necessarily equal collectable. While actual limited production vehicles... Like a Mustang Cobra R for instance, might always enjoy a profitable supply & demand ratio... Marauders are rare because Mercury didn't know how to market them.

The world has plenty of rare cars that nobody wanted in the first place, and they're still nothing special.

I think the Maruader is something special, but its highest calling is enjoying it on a regular basis today.

I've saved all the original stuff from my 5.0 Mustang so I can always restore it to "original", but the fun is in driving it. I'll save anything I swap off the Marauder too, but cars are made for enjoying, and if your's gets old without generating a trunk-full of memories, you've wasted both the car's youth and your own.

So... will it be worth something someday? I dunno. As long as I can drive it in the meantime, I emphatically don't care!

Neat thread, thanks for starting it.

Greg

[BillyGman]

This whole idea of the MM being a collectable is secondary IMO. Nobody can predict that since it will have a lot to do w/what cars are like in the future, and much of that is determined by sales or lack thereof.

Another thing is this.........I once was at a Vette show which was held outdoors as most car shows are. Right in the middle of the lot was a tent like canopy w/about five early 60's vettes underneath it even though there wasn't a cloud in the sky nor was there any predictions for rain that entire weekend, and the car show was only held that one day. I walked over there to take a look, and these early 60's Corvettes not only had window stickers on them, and couldn't even be allowed out in the sun, but the odometer on atleast one of them read 13 miles, and the steering wheel was still wrapped in celephane!!! How rediculous!! I don't care what that car is worth. You can't even drive the thing even if you bought it. I mean if it really only had 13 miles on it in the last 35+ years, what do you think the cylinder walls looked like, as well as the internals of the transmission and rear end due to the lack of use?

Even if this car was in a heated garage for the past 35 years, you still wouldn't want to drive it if you owned it. You might as well drop the gas tank, drain the oil (if there's even any oil in it) and rope it off like a museum piece cuz that's all that it is. Sports cars are made to be driven and enjoyed as are all cars. As I looked at that Corvette, I thought to myself, "What a waste".......IMO, if you buy a car as that guy did just to have people look at it, or to make money on it, then you're NOT a car enthusiast at all. You're simply an investor, and as Logan has already pointed out earlier in this thread, almost all cars turn out to be poor investments.

One guy that I work with who actually can easily afford to buy a 2005 Ford GT said to me that if he bought that car, he would rope it off for 20 years so that he could turn around and make money on it, and that statement aggrivated me because I thought to myself "That's probably what a lot of rich foks are going to do w/those cars, and so they're gonna scoop up many of them w/their enormous money reserves, so that many of the guys who would love to own one in order to drive it and enjoy it, will never have an opportunity to do so". I then said to the guy, "You might have a lotts money to throw around like I wish that I did, but you're not a car enthusiast at all. Even w/all of your money, you're a wanna-be".

[jerrym3]

I've liked Mercurys since I was a little kid in the early 50's and got a ride in my first convertible, a 1950 black Merc. But, I also realize that the Merc never was "the" performance car to own.

Early Mercs (late 40s thru 54) were/are popular collectibles. They were/are identified with an era of great change in the country and in automobile style. But, when General Motors started to think performance and Chrysler started its "Flightsweep" styling era in the mid 50's, Mercs have taken a backseat.

In the musclecar era of the big body cars, the Mercs were not highly revered like the Chevy SSs, Pontiacs 421s, Olds J2s, and Ford Galaxy 500XLs. (Mercury's problem was that they shared their engines with the Ford. Why buy the heavier Mercury when the Ford had the identical drivetrain and less weight?)

In the GTO era, where was Mercury's entry? The Comet? Even when Mercury finally designed a car that looked as good as and could run with the Road Runners, Chevelles, 442s, and Buick Gran Sports, the 68-70 Cyclone 428/429s, they still didn't sell. The fraternal twin, the Torino, sold well, but the Mercury Cyclones were, and still are, rare cars.

And, even though they are rare, a Mercury Cyclone does not command the bucks that the competition does.

The cars that become "collectible", which means are getting big bucks, are those that the typical collectible car buyer either drooled over as a little kid, or owned when he/she was much younger.

Where does that put the Marauder?

I don't think that there's a lot of kids out there drooling over the Marauder, and it appears that most of you Marauder owners and others on this chatbox, including me, are in an age bracket where you will not be buying a Marauder in the years to come to bring back the memories of "those happy days".

Instead, the future collectible car enthusiast will be looking for one of the Asian coupes, a clean BMW M series car, or a Nissan Altima-like vehicle.

But, at least for a short while, the Marauder did bring some of us oldtimers back to our younger days when big America sedans defined performance. The problem is that the definition of performance changed whereby even sedans from Toyota, Nissan, and Infiniti with V6 engines provide performance equal to/better than the sedans that we loved back in the 60's, and the stock Marauder just didn't have enough of a performance edge over the everyday vehicles.

[Dan]

Just so everyong is clear, I am looking for what the group thinks. I personally do not think that these cars will be such collectors items but I wasn't going to come right out and say that until after I tested the waters a bit.

Best,
dan

[TripleTransAm]

As I've mentioned before, for something to be collectible, someone's gotta want it. The Marauder will always be a collectible to the enthusiast that loves the large RWD muscle sedan, and I can see myself going ga-ga over one some 25 years from now when I spot it at a cruise or a car show. I might even scrape some cash together to grab one for cruising purposes, much as one buys a 60s or 70s musclecar nowadays.

But for the general public, if there isn't any demand for one now, there likely won't be any demand for one in the future unless something drastic changes. Look at the Mercurys of the 60s as an example... Mercury fans rightfully revere these muscular beauties, but they're still somewhat underdogs in the 'collectible' arena.

Many here have mentioned the term "instant collectible" when referring to the cancellation announcement for 2005. This would only happen if there was a rampant demand for one at the present time... sort of like "Oh Crap, our time is up, if we don't get one now, we'll lose out!!!". This isn't happening.

Which is not to say the car is not respected... as Dan found out here in Montreal, there is a substantial amount of interest in our cars from car enthusiasts. But interest doesn't always equate to desirability... I shot MANY photos of the immaculate Javelin at both cruises and had I more time I would have certainly picked the owner's ear for info, but it certainly doesn't mean I'd want to buy it.

The next year is going to be instrumental when it comes to my car fleet... the Honda's days are numbered as I will finally be selling it to a family member where I know it will continue to serve selflessly, flawlessly reliably and economically. If the economy stays just right (interest rates don't kill me with my new house payments, substantially more than those on the house I just sold, job security, etc.) and my Marauder behaves itself reliability-wise, I can see a second MM in my household within 12-24 months (used, possibly dealer left-over if I happen to find one). Chances are that market prices will allow this to become a reality...

Then I'll definitely have to change my board ID... :)

(three Trans Ams, Two Marauders, ... and a partridge in a pear tree...)

[mcb26]

I don't know if it is a collectors item or not. I'd like to see a Cyclone Spoiler II or a Cougar Eliminator on the auction on Speedchannel to get some idea. I figure these are 2 comparile cars. Regardless, that's not why I bought it. I like the MM the way it is, I don't intend to change anything except tires when these ware out. As far as I'm concerned the collector issue is for my ancestor.

[David Morton]

Werecar. It just came to me all of a sudden like. Now that I think about it, I'm already a weredriver. I sit down in this new Marauder I bought May 24th (day before my birthday) and I change from the meek and mild mannered Larry Talbot type guy into a bloodthirsty monster ready to devour Volvo Turbo's and Infiniti's at every red light. I don't exceed the speed limit by more than 10% though because I've gotten a few long looks from more than one sherrif and trooper (I think they have an idea what I've got).:rock:

[Dan]

David, my friend,

What you need is a supercharger!!!!

It is funny because you will get to know the personality of the Marauder a bit better and learn that it has two personalities independent of yours.

WIth my MM I can dial back on the gas and ease up on the timing of everything and give my wife the limo ride that she loves. I used to hate it until I learned that she can't stand more than 10 minutes of it before she succumbs to sleep. :) I love the docile part of my MM although I'll admit to it being quite difficult to bring out.

The monstrous side you already know about. It is always right there and ready for you. Just about the only thing that I wish was different was its off the line performance. She is too sluggish at the bottom end.

Which brings us around full circle...

What you need is a supercharger!!!! (me, too)

Best,

Dan

[MYSTA KANG]

To be honest the MM is not a collectors item. EVERY CAR SHOULD GET A PATENT BECAUSE EACH OWNER MAKES IT BETTER WITH THIER PERSONAL TOUCH! SO IT SHOULD BE PROTECTED UNDER THE LAST TRUE MUSCLE CAR LIST AND RESPECTED!

[RF Overlord]

Just for the record, I doubt this car will ever be a "collector's" item...10-15 years down the road a nice one will show up at one of those Klassic Kar shows at a diner, or in the parking lot of the local mall, and people will look at it and go: "Nice"...that'll be about it...it certainly won't be worth an unusual amount of money, nor will you have people asking if you want to sell it...

The one and only time I've ever been asked about the car, the doofus said: "What is that, a Grand Marquis?"...as soon as I tried to explain what it REALLY is, he got bored and left... :shrug: No one has EVER said: "Wow, that's a keen car" or anything like that...

But like Smokie said:

3- I don't care.

[TripleTransAm]

The one and only time I've ever been asked about the car, the doofus said: "What is that, a Grand Marquis?"...as soon as I tried to explain what it REALLY is, he got bored and left... :shrug: No one has EVER said: "Wow, that's a keen car" or anything like that...


You need to come visit Montreal.... :up:

[Dan]

WORD UP, BRUTHAH!!!!

:rolleyes:

:D

[2005Marauder]

The '66 Pontiac Executive had a lot in common with the MM. Subset of the Bonneville, 7.0L; 428ci big engine, wide track, I drove one in high school and it was a great date machine with HUGE front and back seats. Cruise control, automatic climate control, power seats, power brakes, top end over 130 mph, and other neat features such as gas cap behind the license plate. IT would smoke the tires all day. Great machine-but guess what? You can't even find one today! Searched the internet looking for a picture but the closest I came was a '67 and a reference by someone who used the engine from a '66 Executive to put in his '55 Pontiac. Plenty of '66 GTO's, 2+2, LeMans, Firebirds, and Bonnevilles--but no Executives. They were just good highway cars like the MM. Found ONLY ONE Executive for sale for $3,000--it was a '67. Very rare vehicle, but neary 40 years later no one is interested.

Forty years from now the MM will probably suffer a similar fate--someone pulls the engine in 2044 to use it in a '04 Mustang Mach I rebuild project.

[chrish]

currently FORD has the GT & Mustang that will have a following . The MM will NOT.

[MARAUDER S/C #5]

My car will be a collectable! :P

[Dan]

Wow. I never thought this thread would go this long. :)

[geves]

Here in Columbus, OH, the used Marauders are going for about $23,000. I saw a maroon one the other day at the dealership for that price with 6,000 miles. Very nice with the stainless steel inserts. The salesman said that the person who traded it in bought a new one.

[TripleTransAm]

Found ONLY ONE Executive for sale for $3,000--it was a '67.


That's kind of old... try hanging around Wall Street a bit more and I'm sure you'll find a few executives for sale that are a lot younger... although they might cost you more than $3000, unfortunately.

:lol:

[jstevens]

Okay, my .02.
I've noticed that the GM values drop like a rock, but our MM's are not actually a GM, there special. Even if Mercury made mostly dud's, this car caught my fancy. I was going to try to keep the miles low and "save" it for someday special, but thought, why did I buy it. So, I smoke the tires almost every chance I get. This is my first hot rod and boy do I love it. No one, GMC or Chevy made anything close that could touch it. Even the new impala ss is only 260HP. And I have room to spare inside and out.

Will it be a collectable, who knows. I just can't wait to S/C it.

[merc406]

While most all the early Marauders are now collectable because of the number left, not many will command a high price unless it has something special like this one has http://www.animaljimracing.com/gallery/pages/63marauder.htm

[martyo]

While most all the early Marauders are now collectable because of the number left, not many will command a high price unless it has something special like this one has http://www.animaljimracing.com/gallery/pages/63marauder.htm


Yeh, but this car doesn't have Todd's valve covers, so what is it really worth?

[TAF]

While most all the early Marauders are now collectable because of the number left, not many will command a high price unless it has something special like this one has http://www.animaljimracing.com/gallery/pages/63marauder.htmI wonder if the writer of the paragraph would be willing to put in writing that the car is "worth $55K and will double in five years"...in the formal of a legal guarantee.

[merc406]

I wonder if the writer of the paragraph would be willing to put in writing that the car is "worth $55K and will double in five years"...in the formal of a legal guarantee.



I have no idea, speculation doesn't always work out, as we all know. :D

[Hawaii 5-0]

I found it!! December 2003 Issue of Automobile Magazine, On tha block section page 114. "1994 Ford Muchang Cobra Indy pace car convertable S/N HALP450-2RF158674. Red over tan leather, tan top. Five speed. Six miles on the odometer. A new car still in the wrapper. MSRP of $26845. Sold at $23,850. One thousand of these pace cars were built, and they were touted as future collectibles. After stroing one for nearly a decade , the seller here took a loss of almost $3000. And he never even got to drive it. Buy new cars for pleasure not as investments." So if by collectable you mean will they be fun to have and rare, all things considered Marauders are rare for a new car and they are fun, but if you mean they will go up in value as you hang on to them... not going to happen..... just my .02 :)

[stevengerard]

good catch five-0 I was trying to find that, my feelings exactly. Don't mind folks keeping their cars for sunny days but darn it drive the thing.

[Donny Carlson]

Yeh, but this car doesn't have Todd's valve covers, so what is it really worth?
Todd could always have Team Collision paint his car Coral. Should be able to get a good price for it in Key West.

[423REED]

I hope that I don't upset anyone and that you all know that I am as much a Marauder head as the next one. I, too, want the value of our Marauders to climb over time.

I guess my question is what makes us think that they will every actually become collectible? Please, try to give answers that contain some logic verse the more subjective "'Cuz they RULE!:rock:" type of answer. :)

I am a bit sceptical and here is why.
1. The 60's Marauders do not seem to have acheived the desirability we are predicting for our cars.
2. The car is based on the Panther Platform and I don't see a big collector future for that platform.
3. Mercury has let this car live in near obscurity. This is probably the biggest concern.

Please note that I WANT to think that our cars will grow in desirability and collectability so I WANT you guys to give me your reasons for thinking.

Thanks,

DanI think that there is a real chance for collectibility for 2003-04 Marauders. Some of the most collectible cars of the sixties amd seventies were not big sellers in their heyday. They almost all were heavily equiped with real performance parts. Examples include 1969-70 Mach I's with the 428 CJR engine, 1969-70 Boss 302 and 429, 1971 Boss 351. GTO's with 389 Tri-Carb V8's, Camaro Z28 302 V8, etc. They've all reached very high resale values. The 2003-04 MM's have loads of performance parts...they're the deal McCoy! People will appreciate these cars for what they are. Many, many people today do not even have a clue what a MM is. That'll change in time.

[FiveO]

Good point REED.

Agree on all points.

[Joe Walsh]

Does the collector value of my MM decrease because most of my miles get put on in 1/4 mile increments??? Heck, who cares..Drive it and enjoy it!

[Redster]

Good point REED.

Agree on all points.

my guess is that it will be a b-tch to get 93 octane in 30 years.

[FiveO]

my guess is that it will be a b-tch to get 93 octane in 30 years.


True.

We're supposed to run out of oil w/ in 50 years.

Could get interesting :)

[MERCMAN]

my guess is that it will be a b-tch to get 93 octane in 30 years.


then I will park mine out front of the nursing home :lol:

[jstevens]

Don't forget, we now drive "Limited Production Mercury Marauders"

[M-75]

Don't forget, we now drive "Limited Production Mercury Marauders"
more like "out of production" if we're talking resale dollars, out works better than limited.

[Paul T. Casey]

Beauty is in the eye..... To me, mine's already a coollector car (spelling is on purpose.) To buy it from me today would cost you in excess of $100,000. It's all about this stupid nearly 2 year old grin I can't seem to remove from my face every time I even think about my Marauder!

[Joe Walsh]

I agree...I can't wipe the S__T EATING GRIN off of my face everytime I drive a 4400lb Four Door Sedan that smokes lots of "Sports Cars". I too will park my MM in front of the Retirement Home in 30 Yrs!

[dansenander]

I am a bit sceptical and here is why.
1. The 60's Marauders do not seem to have acheived the desirability we are predicting for our cars.
2. The car is based on the Panther Platform and I don't see a big collector future for that platform.
3. Mercury has let this car live in near obscurity. This is probably the biggest concern.

Please note that I WANT to think that our cars will grow in desirability and collectability so I WANT you guys to give me your reasons for thinking.




Maybe I'm too much of a realist, but.....There are 2 kinds of collectable. Emotional Value (See "babie-beannies") and Monetary Value (See "Gold".

I think the Marauder will be mostly emotional value.

The platform is the Crown Vic/Grand Mq. There are just tons and tons of these. Almost every PD, Taxi Company and retired couple over 60 drive one. In addition, many of the parts are interchangabe with at least a half dozen other Ford/Mercury/Linclon products. We will never run out of NOS parts and junk yard parts.

Although, with only 13,000 MM's, I think the few parts that are unique to MM's such as the gauges, counsel, rims, grille, front and rear bumper cover, etc. will increase in parts value as more and more of the MM get into accidents.

Having lots and lots of spare parts available tells me to just drive it like ya stole it! (Just don't wreck the unique parts!)

[hitchhiker]

I am a bit sceptical and here is why.
1. The 60's Marauders do not seem to have acheived the desirability we are predicting for our cars.
2. The car is based on the Panther Platform and I don't see a big collector future for that platform.
3. Mercury has let this car live in near obscurity. This is probably the biggest concern.

Please note that I WANT to think that our cars will grow in desirability and collectability so I WANT you guys to give me your reasons for thinking.




Maybe I'm too much of a realist, but.....There are 2 kinds of collectable. Emotional Value (See "babie-beannies") and Monetary Value (See "Gold".

I think the Marauder will be mostly emotional value.

The platform is the Crown Vic/Grand Mq. There are just tons and tons of these. Almost every PD, Taxi Company and retired couple over 60 drive one. In addition, many of the parts are interchangabe with at least a half dozen other Ford/Mercury/Linclon products. We will never run out of NOS parts and junk yard parts.

Although, with only 13,000 MM's, I think the few parts that are unique to MM's such as the gauges, counsel, rims, grille, front and rear bumper cover, etc. will increase in parts value as more and more of the MM get into accidents.

Having lots and lots of spare parts available tells me to just drive it like ya stole it! (Just don't wreck the unique parts!)

re: Marauders as Collectable Classics...?

The demand for classics is always at least partly emotional...

Many of the 1960's Marauders were plain jane cars relyiing on the exploits of their well optioned, high-horsepower stable mates for marketing. Many had the 390 2V with little or no optional equipment. I am sure that a 406, 427, or 428 ci Marauder with buckets, console, A/C, power windows, AM/FM and other top flight options of their day will command a premium price if the miles are low and they are in 'unmolested' condition. A quality true restoration is also quite acceptable. I have seen 1969 and 1970 x-100's selling for 3 or 4 times hat they sold for 4 years ago for a very clean well-optioned car. These were truely rare cars too!

Most mods kill the investment potential of any car. I do think that there are many desirable mods available. I especially like the Trilogy kit as it looks like it should have been there in the first place. One could always save the origional intake setup and offer it with the car.

Ford and Mercury, while on top much of the time in racing circles, have consistantly failed to market their cars to their full potential. A classic case of this is the marketing for the Mercury Cyclone versus the GTO. Our 2003-04 Marauders are merely the latest victim of FLM's failure to follow through on marketing and sales support.

I do feel that someday our cars will be sought after classics, but that will be 30 years from now.

I say enjoy them while we have them and can still get the gas to run 'em!

Best Regards,

David