Marauder concept Convertible to be on E-Bay

[Hack Goby]

Is Ford putting up the Marauder ragtop concept for a chiarty auction on E-Bay? A friend at work told me this story was in the Detroit Free press a few days back its seems someone on this site would have picked up on this.

[Logan]

First I've heard of it.

Ford rarely sells off their concepts, usually they get recycled or crushed.

[RCSignals]

Wasn't there a post here stating the convertible Marauder would be sold? If not I read it somewhere. It has no top apparently, and a few other oddities.
I don't remember hearing about eBay though

[Long Live #3]

That's because there is no MM on ebay. I've already checked.

[ChuckB]

alas - it's very unlikely the concept ceonvertable MM will be available to the general public. As the 95%+ general rule concepts are stored or destroyed.

the liability of selling unique (None DOT, Crash cetified and reliability tested) vehicles to John Q Public is a huge exposure to the manufacturers. On rare ocassions they can be donated to automotive museums or even more rare do they appear in the "grey" market circles - but these are by far the exceptions.

i wish it was true though - the convertable was just down right sexy.

[MI2QWK4U]

Steve Babcock told us at the Trilogy Open House that the Concept convertible Marauder was going to be auctioned off for charity. He wasn't sure of the medium by which it would be auctioned. He indicated that it doesn't have a full frame and suspension, and could not be driven over 15 mph! A lot of things on it were not functional, and were there for appearances only. No convertible top either! He figured it would end up on display in some rich persons classic car collection. A buddy at Ford just emailed me with this link.....must be what Hack was talking about...

http://www.freep.com/money/tech/mwend1_20030801.htm

[Dennis Reinhart]

Most of the time these cars are dissmantled and never resold

[MI2QWK4U]

They say this will be the first time Ford has done something like this.

[ChuckB]

it will be interesting to see if it's true.

but from the sounds of it other than for a museum or a collection it's not really desireable.

but sure looked pretty

[MI2QWK4U]

You are right about that, like Babcock said, you cant drive it....He said they were on pins and needles when driving it from the truck to the show display!

[Hack Goby]

Sometimes you guess or take a hunch on things like this my info was from the glass house so I had to believe.

[MI2QWK4U]

I like your info from the glass house Hack! It got me a nice place to park my Marauder at the dream cruise thanks to you.

[LincMercLover]

It's true. My Dad (who works at Ford) saw it on the FCN monitor. Supposively it'll be a closed auction on eBay. I wouldn't want it...

[Warpath]

Originally posted by Logan
First I've heard of it.

Ford rarely sells off their concepts, usually they get recycled or crushed.

Actually, Ford auctioned off several of its older concepts not too long ago in California. Some were from the 80s. Some were newer like one or two Mach IIIs, a couple of Indigos. I think it was the first time Ford did sell them off. I'm sure there is some sort of disclaimer the winning bidder has to sign saying they won't drive it and waiving Ford's liability.

[gja]

Yeah, just what I want....a car that can't do more than 15mph.
Uh....I'll pass.

[LasVegasMike]

Yes, I saw the video today at work. The auction will be on Ebay, from the 7th to the 17th of August. The convertible, as well as several L/M design concept drawings will be auctioned. The proceeds will go to "Revvin With Ford" charities.

According to the video, the car is "limited" to 25 m.p.h!

[MAD-3R]

Some sub frame connectors, a complete roll cage, and some interior bracing, and it MIGHT be able to do 50!!

[Long Live #3]

It's cars like that, that don't belong on the road.

[RCSignals]

I wonder if you could drop the body on a regular 2003 Marauder chassis?

[MAD-3R]

It's the bracing and rigidity of the roof that is missing

[SouLRioT]

Its up on e-bay now http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2427148594&category=6882 I wonder i you could part it out? And they've put a limiter for 25 mph only.

[DLoreanMARAUDER]

wouldn't it be possible to register it as a "home made" vehicle throught the dmv? what would it take to get it road worthy, besides taking off the 25MPH limiter! would be a hot car if it were street legal!

[LincMercLover]

The damn driver side tip's broke! :mad:

You think it'll even do a burnout?

What if...

pull the motor/tranny
send the ECM to Dennis to get it unlocked
drop it in a 4-door
swap the rims

Then is it worth it? :confused:

[Bigdogjim]

Hey maybe I can finally put a vinyl top on something! :lol:

[Logan]

Well whaddya know... Ford IS actually doing it...

Click HERE (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2427148594&category=6882) to see the ebay auction.

No registerable or drivable on public roads, no windows, no working dash, no top... Certainly a collectible though!

It's nice to see the proceeds are being donated to charity though.

[SouLRioT]

Is this purchase tax deductible? Ford Motor Company is donating 100% of the proceeds of this auction to The Children's Charities Coalition, a 501(c)(3) organization. The winning bidder should consult their personal tax advisor for more information whether this purchase is deductible. Can any one say tax right off? Come on one of us has to have the dough to keep this one.

[MM03MOK]

I could be wrong, but I think Ford gets the tax write-off, not the buyer because the buyer receives something in exchange for the money. Ford is donating the proceeds, not the buyer.

Any accountants here??

[LCpl Retired]

not an accountant..

but from my experience Ford shoudl (MAY) be able to write off the cost of building this thing, or a fair portion of it this way...and the charity will get the $..(or a fair portion of them)

not a bodyman

but after driving convertable Lincolns for 10 years which (and please correct me if I am wrong..and this forum may be the place to know) were literally sedans pulled off the assembly line and the roofs cut off ...and then the floors doubled and heavily braced (including a huge X brace across the bottom, trunks changed, doors modified...blah blah) eliminating ...well kinda sorta...the cowl shake and door rattle experienced over rough roads. My Gold car had a license plate "RATLCAR" on it when I bought it...(eventually did get most of them out but...) and these were PRODUCTION cars...1960s production but still....

well... maybe if you or your brother owns one of the convertable conversion places still out there...they could finish it possibly

not a dmv employeee

but after sucessfully registering several spooky grey market things a few years ago....regulations may vary state to state..and if you can get it inspected (special state inspection facility) as a rebuild or kit or whatever (depending on your state ..then...mayyybeeee...and that would dependant on the Federal view of this thing..perhaps not an issue because it started life as a domestic car..but if Federal has ANY issue with it you may as well plant flowers in it now.

[jgc61sr2002]

LasVegasMike - Welcome to the site, the best on the net.:D

[Bowman9]

I wonder if you could drop the body on a regular 2003 Marauder chassis?

I would think if you pulled off all the body panels and were to bolt them up to a clean titled panther platform (eg Crown Vic) it would be legal to drive. Because it would be titled as a Crown Vic.
I believe the title follows the frame of the car not the body.

I bet one of our sponosers are thinking the same thing.

Later,Bowman9

[MERCMAN]

HEY!! The high bidder on the rag top purchased a godshead emblem off e-bay from our own agr3. HMMM a marauder owner already perhaps???

[LasVegasMike]

Thanks, jgc61sr2002, I've enjoyed reading the different forums. Looks like a great group of people!

[Flat Eric]

28K for a 15mph 335hp convertible????

for that money we could all supercharge our own MM's and chop them...

[BISHOPSS95]

You could use it in an Animal House remake.

:)

[RCSignals]

Originally posted by BISHOPSS95
You could use it in an Animal House remake.

:)

Naw, an Impala would be far better suited ;) :)

[MERCMAN]

It sold for 37,655, the buyer is a model airplane nut(according to his previous purchases on e-bay) Maybe he will make it a remote control car?