Mercury Marauder - black in the wrong hands
- Thread starter cfd135
- Start date
Jesse very nice work ,it's great to see versitale car and trucks . I have a 2 yr old ford 500 todo any the owner used a brillo pad to get tree sap &tar off they stayed as well the scratches. I feel very bad for the guy he really tries take care of the car but he truely doesn't have education on how .
LOL Steven
LOL Steven
ToySupra727
New member
- Jun 15, 2010
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Taken from WikipediaBeautiful save! Nicely done!rops:
Now I know this is probably a stupid question, but what is the difference between the Marauder and the Grand Marquis?
From 2003 to 2004, Ford produced the Marauder as a high-performance version of the Mercury Grand Marquis sedan. Although the Mercury division is most directly a competitor to Buick (and formerly Oldsmobile), the Marauder of 2003–2004 targeted the 1994–1996 Chevrolet Impala SS in being a contemporary full-size "muscle sedan."
The Mercury Marauder was based on an updated version of the Ford Panther platform. The Marauder had a naturally aspirated 4.6 L DOHC Modular V8 producing 302 hp (225 kW) and 318 ft·lbf (431 N·m) of torque; this engine had many parts — including heads, cams, block and rotating assembly — in common with the 2003–2004 Mustang Mach 1 Automatic and the 2003–2005 Lincoln Aviator SUV. The Marauder featured a dual exhaust system with unique tailpipe tips, with custom designed chassis and suspension modifications – such as moving the rear shocks outboard of the frame-rails, which were later made available for the Crown Victoria and Grand Marquis. The Marauder was fitted with the 4R70W 4-speed automatic in 2003 and received the upgraded 4R75W 4-speed automatic for 2004. The limited slip differential with a 3.55 rear axle ratio was borrowed from the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, as well as the aluminum drive shaft.
Cosmetically, the Marauder borrowed trim parts from both its Ford and Mercury stablemates. The headlights and corner lights, from the Grand Marquis, have all non-reflector surfaces blacked out and its grille is painted body-color instead of chrome. Side trim and the B-pillars are painted body-color like the Crown Victoria, which also donates its trunk panel, and tail lights which are tinted to just within DOT standards. The Marauder's front and rear bumper cover are unique to the vehicle though, with the front featuring Cibié fog lamps, and sporting the car's name embossed on the rear bumper. The car's five spoke, eighteen inch wheels feature Mercury's classic "god-head" (Mercury's silhouette) emblem on its center caps. And unlike the standard Grand Marquis, the Marauder featured front bucket seats and a floor shifter with a center console. The instrument cluster was specific to the Marauder, with the satin aluminum gauges and the pressed electrical board to control them are specific to the Marauder, as is the tachometer. The 140 mph (220 km/h) speedometer head unit was borrowed from the Police Interceptor, but with a Marauder unique gauge face. The Marauder is also the only Panther after 1997 with a specific pin on the PCM for a tachometer.
The 2003–2004 Marauder sales fell short of corporate forecasts, and after a production run of just 11,052 vehicles, the Marauder was discontinued at the end of 2004. However the Ford Crown Victoria LX Sport remained, bearing a monochrome appearance similar to the Marauder but powered by the lesser 239 hp (178 kW) 4.6 L 2-valve SOHC V8. The LX Sport also included smaller 17" wheels, softer suspension, a taller 3.27 rear axle ratio, along with numerous other mechanical and cosmetic details that remain unique to the Marauder. The LX Sport too would be discontinued in 2008 after a very short production run of 2008 model year cars.
In 2008, the Ford Performance Group officially began recognizing the Mercury Marauder (along with the Motor City Marauders Car Club as the official club for the vehicle). And as of Fall 2009, the Ford Performance Group also began offering certificates verifing the Mercury Marauder as a Limited Production Vehicle.
Total production for the 2003–2004 Mercury Marauder was 11,052:[citation needed]
- 2003 – Total: 7839 (328 Dark Pearl Blue, 417 Silver Birch, 7094 Black)
- 2004 – Total: 3213 (981 Dark Toreador Red, 987 Silver Birch , 1245 Black)
O.C.Detailing
New member
- Jul 24, 2009
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Unbelievable turn-around my friend. Absolutely beautiful. I only wish I had rotary skills like that...actually, I just wish I had a QUALITY rotary...I'm too hooked on my Griot's and too afraid to pay the cost for a new Makita and then to turn around and use it until I become proficient at it. I applaud this level of work!
Oh, and that comment about being complimented by Mike being checked off the list was my buddy and assistant Jonathan. lol He's funny.
Oh, and that comment about being complimented by Mike being checked off the list was my buddy and assistant Jonathan. lol He's funny.
cfd135
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- Sep 16, 2009
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- Thread starter
- #26
It was a challenge, I don't rush, but I am extremely methodical, and I always work with a sense of urgency. I washed the car the night before so it was completely dry in the AM, and I just hit it hard.
And Adam, go get yourself a rotary and start practicing. I started using my Porter Cable in 2003. I first used my Makita in April 2010, and the Marauder was the 8th vehicle I had done with it. I absolutely LOVE it, and my detailing mentor has been saying 'I told you so' ever since. I'll never get rid of my PC, but the Makita and I have become best friends.
For all the 'continuing education' comments - the owner has been given instructions on how to care for the paint properly, although he now says he intends on selling it.
Today I am working on another black Grand Marquis, no correction on this one, just Megs 205 and Griot's OSS, so hopefully 6-8 hours. That's 3 of these big Mercs in the last 30 days. Ooof.