Smoky > 1969 Mercury Marquis
1969 Mercury Marquis
| Owner: |
Smoky   (All of this user's registries on SuperMotors) |
| From: |
Grand River, OH, U.S.A. (Other registries in OH) |
| Year, Make, & Model: |
1969 Mercury Marquis (Other Mercury Marquiss in this club) |
| Avatar: |
 |
| Clubs: |
SuperFord.org (Other vehicles in this club)
|
| Nickname: |
Topaz |
| Mileage: |
42800 |
| Engine: |
429 Thunderjet. 2V autolite carb. This is a TORQUE MONSTER! 460 pd-ft. @2200. 320 bhp with single exhaust, but mine has dual exhaust, so I reckon 335 bhp. (see Drivetrain below.) Compression test done Feb. 2022 results:
#1-200
#2-190
#3-200
#4-190
#5-205
#6-210
#7-190
#8-200 |
| Drivetrain: |
429-2V engine Dual exhaust, automatic c-6 transmission, 2.75:1 rear axle ratio. 15 inch wheels and riding on Toyo Extensa A/S radial tires size P235/75 R15 that I keep inflated to 28-30 psi per mfg. With a single exhaust it is rated at 320 bhp, but with performance dual exhaust on this car, I estimate 335 bhp! (The 4 bbl carb. version is rated at 360 bhp.) But the 2 bbl version of the 429 with 10.5:1 compression and running premium fuel is no slouch by any means, plus the improved mileage shouldn't be overlooked.
The only upgrade to the original factory setup is a Pertronix electronic ignition, which makes the points and condenser unnecessary. I also upgraded the standard suspension to the heavy duty, by adding HD Moog springs and Monroe load leveling shocks. I like the added height, plus a car of this size can benefit from the improved ride too. It's still surprisingly floaty. |
| Notes: |
This car was ordered in November of 1968, from Parkview Mercury in Windsor, Ontario, and was delivered in March, 1969. The original purchaser kept this car up until his passing in 2010. The car was appraised on 9/14/2010 with 35,811 miles on the clock and presumably sold by the first owner's wife. (Her name appears on the appraisal as the owner.) A second Canadian owner bought the car, and kept it until 2015. (This is the only undocumented gap in this car's history. I know from talking with the second Florida owner, that the first Florida owner had the car shipped to Florida from Canada in 2015.) The car was sold to the first Florida owner on 5/8/2015 who had it shipped from Ontario to Florida, where it was registered with Historical Plates now showing 37,305 miles. He kept the car until 2018, and may be responsible for adding the dual exhaust, new tires (Toyo, 2016) and a new top. The second Florida owner (with whom I spoke) bought the car on 11/16/2018 with 40,060 miles, and kept it only a few months. He had a devil of a time with the brakes. (see my log on how I eventually worked out the brake problem.) He traded in the car to Sunrise Ford in Florida, where it apparently got auctioned off to the 2nd dealer, Auto Sensations (from whom I bought the car in August of 2019.) The current mileage is all documented with a 3 ring binder of repairs, maintenance, and other work going back to the original purchase contract. I then had the car shipped up North to Mentor Ohio, where the lack of AC is not so bad. By then it had 40,499 miles when I took delivery. In all, just under 5,000 miles racked up in the last 10 years! It runs great, and the mechanic that did the initial safety check and maintenance agreed that it was in very sound mechanical order. (But that was the same mechanic that was unable to fix the brakes -see log.)
I like this car because in the 44 year history of Mercury Marquis (including Grand Marquis--1967-2011) it is the first year of the convertible body of which there were only 2319 made in 1969 (1970 was the last year for the convertible Marquis.) Also, this Marquis is on the new (and largest ever) frame for 1969, which continued to be used until 1978. It is also just the 3rd Marquis ever, as the first two years; 67-68 were strictly 2 door luxury coupes. By most accounts, it is considered a 2nd generation Marquis. In '69 the Park Lane was discontinued and the Marquis was now the top of the Line full size Mercury with all body styles including 2 dr. and 4 dr. hardtops and sedans, the Convertible, the Colony Park Wagon, and even the Marauder was revived again with the Marquis front end, but using Ford's wheelbase and frame. Finally, Mercury had a car that would successfully compete with the Olds 98 and Buick Electra. And lastly, I like really big convertibles! At 224 inches long, and 124 inch Wheel base, even the '69 Caddy is barely bigger! The Marquis along with its sibling, the Monterey, were the largest convertibles available from Ford or Lincoln/Mercury in 1969, or indeed, since 1967, with the loss of the Lincoln 4 Dr convertible. After 1970 even these Merc droptops would disappear, leaving just the Ford to soldier on for a couple years more.
The color combination must be pretty good too, as Mercury used this same combo in all of its 1969 sales literature showing the convertible. It is simply called dark blue metallic, with the dk. blue vinyl interior and white pinpoint vinyl top with a glass window.
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| Last Updated: |
4/15/2024 |
| Hits: |
6031 |
 Gas Chardon Oil1.jpg
45 hits | 99.92 KB | Posted: 3/24/24
Getting Gas at Chardon Oil in Painesville Ohio. I'm filling up with e-0 (ethanol free, pure gas) Today it was $4.89 a gal. usually about 93 Octane. March 24, 2024, Palm Sunday, temp about 40* f. dry roads.
 3-12-24 brake job.jpg
44 hits | 48.63 KB | Posted: 3/12/24
All of the new parts installed. Old MC was leaking, and old splitter block could not be centered for the Dash Light to work correctly.
 3-12-24 brake job removed old parts.jpg
44 hits | 35.83 KB | Posted: 3/12/24
This is the old splitter block and proportioning valve. Erik was unable to get the piston centered for the "brake system" light on the dash, so removed them both and replaced them with rebuilt ones I gave him.
 IMG_20240112_083943909.jpg
68 hits | 80.5 KB | Posted: 1/13/24
A mystery 3 prong female plug under the dash near the fuse block and e-brake release. Don't know what this is for, but would like to know.
 BrakeLightDisconnect.jpg
87 hits | 83.38 KB | Posted: 12/21/23
This is the inline connector plug I made for the Brake System Warning Light. You can just see a part of the plug that attaches to the Brake Pressure Differential Valve in the bottom middle. This plug was taken out of a Marauder (the white plastic o...
 IMG_20231219_140424238.jpg
79 hits | 94.15 KB | Posted: 12/20/23
This is optional cover for the dimmer switch
 IMG_20231219_140319573.jpg
67 hits | 84.42 KB | Posted: 12/20/23
Here's the new dimmer switch installed
 IMG_20231209_131949740.jpg
90 hits | 33.4 KB | Posted: 12/9/23
THe old dimmer switch which I removed and replaced with the new one on 12/9/23. Doing that got the "Hi-Beam" indicator light to come on. (it hadn't worked since I got the car)
 License plate bulb and LED replacement.jpg
135 hits | 18.18 KB | Posted: 11/27/23
This is the original license plate bulb and its new LED replacement which has been installed...
 9Z65K586097-1.jpg
681 hits | 81.75 KB | Posted: 10/2/19
Dk. Blue with White top and blue vinyl interior
 Monroe-Fr.-Shocks.JPG
588 hits | 36.96 KB | Posted: 3/14/20
Monroe Front Load adjusting shocks
 LensCoverBackOnD.jpg
557 hits | 81.25 KB | Posted: 8/3/23
Working clock, new LEDs and Gauge Lens assembly installed
 gas cap.jpg
539 hits | 66.47 KB | Posted: 3/29/23
This shows the difference between what the new gas cap looks like (Stant #10640) and what was already on my car. The new gas cap is not vented properly, causing the gas tank grommet to fail and then leak. Keeping the old one on.
 ClockOutA.jpg
465 hits | 89.35 KB | Posted: 7/30/23
This was the last step in disassembly: getting the clock out. It was a tight squeeze, had to pull the front white base away from the blue body metal behind it, while still being held by the wiring harness and speedometer cable which are right behind...
 Dash-Top-Pad-removed.jpg
409 hits | 98.57 KB | Posted: 7/26/23
July 26th, 2023 got the Top Dash Pad removed with Erik's help. Got car in garage before storms coming.
 Craig-n-Erik.jpg
403 hits | 64.14 KB | Posted: 7/27/23
After Craig got the top pad off, he was unplugging the speaker wire in this pic. Eric is holding up the pad on the far side. Pad is resting carefully in the trunk.
 Dash-mid-pad-removed.jpg
381 hits | 87.11 KB | Posted: 7/28/23
Dash mid level pad with gauge fascia removed on 6/27/23. Realized I lost the hex lock nut for the wiper switch. It wasn't present when I got home from Erik's shop, so maybe there? I had it unscrewed and loose on the knob shaft. dumb when I went ther...
 Dash-lens-plate-assy-removed.jpg
376 hits | 86.94 KB | Posted: 7/28/23
Lens plate covering speedometer etc. removed exposing all of the lights.
Maintenance & Modification Logs
| Date | Type | Mileage | Title / Description | $ Amount | | 04/15/24 | Miscellaneous | 43142 | Another G. P. cruise
Little helper before starting (been 9 days) but fired up fine about 2pm on a Sunny dry Monday afternoon. Traffic was ok, but good on 2, so getting to and staying at 70 was easy. Got a wave from another driver in a purple jeep. All smooth and easy stopping. A school bus stopped on 4 lane 306, so I suddenly had to stop too, as I was in the lane next to him. No problem though. | 0.00 | | 04/06/24 | Miscellaneous | 43128 | Another G. P. cruise
A Beautiful sunny dry Saturday afternoon about noon, started the car with some helper fluid (been 9 days). Had the heat on part way with temps in the mid-40s. Traffic was fairly heavy as might be expected. However, this cruise is all right turns and I was able to get up to full speed on Rt. 2. Gas is reading above full. Nothing else worth noting today. | 0.00 | | 03/28/24 | Miscellaneous | 43113 | Another G. P. cruise
Today around 11:00am it is sunny and clear, dry roads after a rinsy rain last night with temps in the low 40s. Car started right up with no help. Pretty uneventful cruise, but that's my favorite kind. Gas is still past full. Had to turn heat temp down. It's good seeing the "brake system" light go on during start up then shut off. Brakes are still better than ever. | 0.00 | | Total | 0.00 |
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