2002 Mercury Marauder Concept Convertible for sale again

[stanchfi]

The 2002 Mercury Marauder Concept Convertible is coming up for auction again.

http://auctionsamerica.com/events/feature-lots.cfm?SaleCode=AS12&ID=r161

I was surprised to read the listing say "this Marauder is fully roadworthy" Last time it came up for auction, it was listed as being electronically limited to 25mph or something. Anybody know if it was modified by the most recent owner?

-James

[gmarsden9]

wow!! how much do you think she will sell for?

[fastblackmerc]

You never see a picture with the top up... bet it doesn't have one.

[Spectragod]

You never see a picture with the top up... bet it doesn't have one.

It has no top, side glass, mechanism for the side glass etc.

[stanchfi]

I guess "roadworthy" means different things to different people :)

-James

[PonyUP]

I believe the 25mph limit was taken off, but I believe the car can't be registered because the body wasn't reinforced to account for the convertible


Pony seal of Approval

[guspech750]

Here is that Youtube video of the owner driving it and do a burnout.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTB92v9Qj14

[Marauderman]

You never see a picture with the top up... bet it doesn't have one.

I like my man fastblackmerc's comment the best of all............so who can challenge this and proved it?

[Bluerauder]

I like my man fastblackmerc's comment the best of all............so who can challenge this and proved it?

One of our members here saw the car when it was for sale in Pennsylvania. No top and no mechanism to lift it anyway. I believe that Blackened300a talked to the guy at Carlisle 2011 and tried to get him come out to MV9 in Hershey, PA. He declined -- weather was a concern as I recall. Maybe Paul will chime in with what he knows.

The roof on most cars provides for some of the body stiffness and reduction of body flex. A chopped top removes that stiffness. Body flex in a chopped Marauder would be noticeable. I remember years ago when the body flex on T-Top Camaros and Trans Ams was enough to loosen the T-top inserts and let them go flying in the wind.

[lwblumjr]

...The roof on most cars provides for some of the body stiffness and reduction of body flex. A chopped top removes that stiffness. Body flex in a chopped Marauder would be noticeable. I remember years ago when the body flex on T-Top Camaros and Trans Ams was enough to loosen the T-top inserts and let them go flying in the wind.
Bluerauder,

The Camaro was a unitized body with no separate frame. The Panther platform cars have a full frame so body flex with the top cut off would not be as much of a problem.

[FW_Linc/Merc]

Cool I will get to see it finally. Just 20 minutes from me and I was going anyway.

Didn't not sell last year as the seller wanted around $40K.

[FW_Linc/Merc]

Did the search and found the owner wants about 75K. He removed the rev limiter but it still cannot be legally driven on the road.

At 40K I might have been interested if I could have driven it legally on the road, but it really is just a show car.

Bummer, I was getting excited about stiffening the frame and making a carson top based on a two door hardtop concept I once saw.

The fact that Roush did the work also appealed to me.

[djv5150]

The car was sold by ford with a bill of sale only the vin is flagged and cannot be titled it is also the vin from a 99 crown Vic LX, there are no front working seat belts they are just sewn into the seat backs, there is no top, no door glass and no extra windshield supports, no body supports to support the removal of the roof that is why it was speed limited in the first place.
http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l606/DJV5150/5-12-201245945PM.jpg
http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l606/DJV5150/5-12-201250008PM.jpg

[mikethejackal]

Wow, I never realized that it only had a supercharged SOHC in it. I still want it!

[ImpalaSlayer]

took 500k to make an ugly, underpowered, non road worthy death trap? unreal.

im glad that car was only a concept.

[BlackJack]

Bluerauder,

The Camaro was a unitized body with no separate frame. The Panther platform cars have a full frame so body flex with the top cut off would not be as much of a problem.
Cowl shake when driving and slamming the doors/trunk lid would still be a problem on the Marauder convertible. It probably would have door alignment issues if it was put on a lift that picked the car up by the frame instead of under the tires.

[djv5150]

Cowl shake when driving and slamming the doors/trunk lid would still be a problem on the Marauder convertible. It probably would have door alignment issues if it was put on a lift that picked the car up by the frame instead of under the tires.

I agree, I have been in the car and went over it with a fine tooth comb at Mecum auction 2010 check out the pics, there is no added structure support the car was made to look at not to drive that is why the car was speedlimited to 25 mph.
http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/1010/dscn1242.jpg
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/2637/dscn1237e.jpg
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/7835/dscn1258f.jpg

[FW_Linc/Merc]

Thanks for posting the letter! That piece of history is very cool to share.

[Dobs]

took 500k to make an ugly, underpowered, non road worthy death trap? unreal.

im glad that car was only a concept.

I was about to say

[FW_Linc/Merc]

2002 Mercury Marauder Concept Convertible

Lot No. 523
< PREV LOTNEXT LOT >
Sold for $ 51,700

Introduced at the 2002 Chicago Auto Show by Ford Motor Co., this concept car was built by Jack Roush at a cost approaching $500,000. The one-off convertible has a 4.6-liter supercharged V-8 with 335 horsepower and a three-speed automatic transmission. The exterior is finished in a striking black, and its graphite gray interior features a full complement of power options, including air conditioning. Mercury’s vision with the Marauder was to blend 1960s muscle car experience with modern driving dynamics and safety, wrapped in a contemporary package. With just 155 miles on the odometer, and unlike many concepts, this Marauder is fully roadworthy.
ADDENDUM

Please note this car sold on bill of sale only.

I will post a couple pictures soon. Interesting that with the lengthened door the drives side door hinge pins were already sagging and some of the splice seams where started to show.

[CBT]

One of our members here saw the car when it was for sale in Pennsylvania. No top and no mechanism to lift it anyway. I believe that Blackened300a talked to the guy at Carlisle 2011 and tried to get him come out to MV9 in Hershey, PA. He declined -- weather was a concern as I recall. Maybe Paul will chime in with what he knows.

The roof on most cars provides for some of the body stiffness and reduction of body flex. A chopped top removes that stiffness. Body flex in a chopped Marauder would be noticeable. I remember years ago when the body flex on T-Top Camaros and Trans Ams was enough to loosen the T-top inserts and let them go flying in the wind.

Really? Come on now....

[GAMike]

It would be cool if someone could take a top fro
A wrecked T-Bird and fab it up for this car.... With the portholes it might be a cool look.

[shodude]

couldn't you say just take the frame from say a wrecked marauder and swap it under this car. doesn't the vin stay with the frame? might be away to make it "legal"

[RF Overlord]

The car has a "normal" Marauder frame...that's part of the problem. The frame was not stiffened to support the car properly with the top structure missing.




Ah-huh-huh...I said "stiffened".

[88LTDCV351]

Here is an interesting article on the concept. If you expand close enough you can read pretty much most of it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MERCURY-MARAUDER-CONVERTIBLE-ORIGINAL-ARTICLE-/380575550598?pt=LH_DefaultDoma in_0&hash=item589c120c86

[Vortech347]

Cage it, harness it, race it.

[bigcowl-imp]

Cage it, harness it, race it.

Why ??? it would not keep up with anything and what fun would that be ??

[bigcowl-imp]

One of our members here saw the car when it was for sale in Pennsylvania. No top and no mechanism to lift it anyway. I believe that Blackened300a talked to the guy at Carlisle 2011 and tried to get him come out to MV9 in Hershey, PA. He declined -- weather was a concern as I recall. Maybe Paul will chime in with what he knows.

The roof on most cars provides for some of the body stiffness and reduction of body flex. A chopped top removes that stiffness. Body flex in a chopped Marauder would be noticeable. I remember years ago when the body flex on T-Top Camaros and Trans Ams was enough to loosen the T-top inserts and let them go flying in the wind.

The only way they would fly off is when guys would forget to lock them....

[jerrym3]

My 2003 TBird rides tighter with the hardtop on.

My 64 Galaxie would have been sent to the junkyard in the 80's if the car didn't have the convertble "X" frame member.

[Vortech347]

Why ??? it would not keep up with anything and what fun would that be ??

Pulley swap, port the little M90 blower. Get her up to around 380-390 to the tires. I'll bet that car is substantially lighter than a production MM. Purists may be pissed but look how successful modified Cobra R's are. If you worked hard enough I'll bet you could get a title for it. A friend of mine acquired one of the Champ Series Cobras and it was a bill of sale only. Now its registered and street legal.

[FW_Linc/Merc]

Just watched the car sell again today in Auburn Indiana. This time it sold for $42,500.

[Motorhead350]

Word is it has a 98 Crown Victoria title and it street legal now.

:)

[SC Cheesehead]

Word is it has a 98 Crown Victoria title and it street legal now.

:)

Yeah, but if previous owners haven't done any frame bracing on it the thing isn't gonna be roadworthy.

[Motorhead350]

Yeah, but if previous owners haven't done any frame bracing on it the thing isn't gonna be roadworthy.

The new owner will be the judge of that. :flamer:

I see your point though.

[SC Cheesehead]

The new owner will be the judge of that. :flamer:

I see your point though.

IIRC, the car, in it's original condition, wasn't supposed to go over 25 mph, and body panels would shift slightly if the car rolled over any bumps due to the flex in the frame.

[STEPS]

it is a concept car and should be left that way don't change anything.
I think it would have been a good seller so would have the two door.
would like to see Ford bring it back..

[MarauderMike]

If I am remembering the story right Ford Division had signed on but Mercury Division didn't want to do it. Steve knows the story we'll ask him in Atlanta.

[L.Mark]

So does that mean Steve IS coming to Atlanta?!?!?!?!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sflrainmaker01]

Very nice car!:burnout: That would be a great car for down here in Florida (except during the rainy season:rolleyes:)! :banana2:

[MarauderMike]

So does that mean Steve IS coming to Atlanta?!?!?!?!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Yes, Steve has told us that he will be flying to Atlanta. Jerry offered him Trilogy 2 for the trip but I believe he already had the flights made.