Showdown: Old Black is the New Black Edition
At the risk of being obvious, we’ll go ahead and claim there’s no better color for a car than black. No other shade means serious business like black. Had one of the Stallion Starions from our last Showdown been black, it would’ve been the clear victor.
We’re curious how you’ll pull the lever on today’s contestants, but with these options no one’s a loser.
When it comes to names for trim levels, “Marauder” is tough to beat. It takes the otherwise vaguely upscale Mercury Monterey out of the country club and into the back alley. This example’s equipped with a 4-barrel 390 and an auto, and has been recently cleaned up. We’re not so overcome with nostalgia to think it’d be all that fast in stock form, but with a few tweaks on that 390 (like a bore/stroke out to 406 and a 3X2 intake) and a 3.73:1 posi rearend would wake it right up. It was just listed on eBay Motors and no one’s yet stepped up for the $2000 openning bid, we’re guessing it’ll go for between $7k and $10k.
Man, what a difference 5 years can make in automotive styling. The ’64 Marauder was an example of early 60s rocket-age styling, while this ’69 Coronet exemplifies late-60s muscle: snub-nosed and coke-bottled. The scoops and trunk tape stripe make a strong claim, and being a Track-Pac model with a swapped-in 5 speed, this one’s likely to deliver. Would’ve been nice to know if that motor’s a 383 or 440, though. It’s at $11,000 with the reserve not met. We’re guessing it’ll go for just south of $20k. To make the comparison fair (ish), maybe think about what you could do to the Merc for the price difference?
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Andrew Weiland 
andrew mapes 
You had me at twin hood scoops …
Sorry, gotta go with the Marauder. At least people will want to look at it. Those Coronets were just not pretty cars AT. ALL.
And nowadays, everyone who has a Coronet has some silly delusion that it's worth $100,000.
I think they're both quite pretty, but the Merc is classy, even understated, while the Coronet seems to have walked into the bar and slapped its meat on the counter by comparison. Sure, neither's a bad deal, but I'd have the Marauder.
Agreed. I like Q-ships, and the Marauder hits that mark for me. Like Fuzzy said, the Coronet slapped its meat on the counter with that thick orange stripe. I even liked the re-released Marauder.
I got a 64 25 anniversary car I love it needs to be restored will sell 336 437 4483
I had a '69 Coronet 440 6 pack when I was a kid and it had a fiberglass hood with one big intake scoop and 4 hood pins. Looking at the one in the picture, I'd say it's a 383 but that's just a guess.
Well, the ad doesn't state it, but it implies it may be the original motor, which would have been a 440 for the R/T model. I can't imagine restoring the car like that and putting in a 383. You never know, though.
Gotta go Merc. Blame Mr. Stroppe and Mr. Jones.
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3075/3159254158_2210daf0d1.jpg" width="500" height="244" />
mmm… I'll be in my bunk.
You're killing me here. I want to compete in this car in the Carrera Panamericana, and have flowers thrown at me by adoring fans.
I'll second the nomination.
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3599/3385588749_258f5199b5_o.jpg">
Can I have them both? I'll pick the Marauder for 3 reasons, a) that's a really cool name, b) you wont get meatheads hollering at you at stoplights "gotta hemi in that?" and c) there is a really neat powder blue one with a white top down the street.
As a Mopar man, I can't believe I'd still have to go for the Marauder. Reminds me of the black 63 Comet wagon I used to have in the 80's, only so much better.
That black Mercury, with its arrow-head profile (check out the front bumper cut-line) and the implied tailfin feathers is a steel-and-glass arrow in motion. True automotive art to my eye. A timeless hardtop coupe, it gets my vote.
Dammit, Charles, you have a way with words and I couldn't agree more.
You are very kind. My eye is artistically untrained, but certain visual analogues catch my attention. I call them as I see them, and hope I don't sound like an idiot.
By all means, bud, call them as you see them. As far as being an idiot goes, you're in good company, although I prefer the term Idiot Savant (was in a band by that name once, we sucked).
That bumper matches the contemporary "Rocket Bird" T-bird styling.
<img src="http://www.torinocobra.com/images/1963FordTbird2352-A.jpg">